history

     Meg Monell, an avid golfer who belongs to the Powelton Club of Newburgh, NY, began a junior girls' golf program there many years ago. Joe Anderson, who was the Pro there at the time was a great help. Meg called the mothers of all children who wanted to play that their help was needed. And they did help. Meg used the mothers to give treats after golf-brownies, hamburgers, and soft drinks. The boys then saw that the program was going along and nobody was paying attention to them. Jackie Howley and Chris Catania came to Meg asking if she would be willing to include boys in the program. Meg responded, Sure. Golf should be a combined thing anyhow. Right away the boys said they would like to have a championship and trophy. They went over to the Mid-Hudson Mall and at the Cornell Jewlery Store they picked out a champagne bucket as their trophy. Why a champagne bucket? The boys told Meg that it was "classy." That was the start of the Jr. Golf program at the Powelton Club.

    Meg had these children over at the Powelton Club at 7:30 in the morning on a Monday. She asked the 18-hole Powelton Club lady golfers to help her and set up clinics for these 50 children. These adults and young golfers met with Meg once a week, May through the end of school. Over on the 12th hole there's a practice green and one adult would work with 10-12 young adults on putting. Another would work with the driver, a group and adult with the irons, and so on. On the 11th where there was a sand trap and green, someone was helping another group with chipping and putting. Rounding up golf clubs from everywhere, Meg told the youngsters, "If you're going to play the game, you should know how to use each tool in your golf bag." Meg wanted some competition for these kids and the only organized program was at Osiris where Orin Segal was in charge. Ten of his better players played an 18-hole tournament. Meg talked to Paul Siepman from Stony Ford (Presently, Tom Quinlick's position) who liked "Meg's" idea of a junior golf program. Paul spoke to the Otterkill PGA Professional Ron Reed and other PGA area professionals. They all felt like it was a great idea, and said they would help get it started. This is how HVJTMS began.

     In 1974, as a result of Meg's hard work, the Hudson Valley Junior Team Match Series was begun. The clubs in the series were Powelton, Osiris, Stony Ford, Central Valley Golf Club, Orange County Golf Club, West Point Golf Course, and Wiltwyck Country Club in Kingston. At the onset it was impossible to take all the youngsters who wanted to play, so the field was narrowed to six players from each club; three in the 14 and under and three in 15 and over. Meg has always been President of the HVJTMS. She decided that they should have a awards banquet, which goes on to this day.

     As time went on Meg had more and more players, and more parents helping out. To give some added incentive to adults: if they drove, they had free greens fees for that day. Many of Meg's helpers are parents of young golfers who compete in the Series. The Series now has three divisions: The par division 10-12 years old, the birdie division 13-15 years old and the eagle division 16-18 years old.

     The format calls for one Day of Golf at each club to be held in the months of July and August. One course out of the sixteen clubs is chosen to host the Pro-Am. Another club is selected to have the HVJTMS Individual Champion. There is a very nice plaque for the winners of the Pro-Am, and the Team Match Series. There are presently 33 Golf Course names on the HVJTMS plaque. Competition is conducted without handicaps and points are awarded to the top 10 scorers in each of the divisions. A team's total is determined by adding the points of its players.   Culminating the end of the season is the banquet, held at one of the participating clubs. The players, parents and helpers have dinner and the awards are given.

    Meg has been tireless in her effort to bring golf to more and more Hudson Valley Juniors, but give credit to many other people. Some who have helped tremendously in the beginning were her husband Bill, Jake Kriney from Bruedan Corp. who had contributed golf towels to the kids, and Peter Paul Polhamus who contributed shirts. Bo Gill and his wife Kathleen were a big help in getting the programs started. All of the area Pros have been extremely cooperative. Willie Carter is so great and so supportive in the program.

     "The juniors all call me Meg- not from lack of respect, but because it's easier to call out 'Oh Meg' on the golf course if there's a problem." Lack of respect is not something you will find at a HVJTMS outing. The Juniors are well aware of the rules and etiquette of the golf course as well as respect in daily living. Expectations are high and are met. We congratulate Meg Monell who, with her vision has helped so many young people understand and enjoy the pleasures of golf.