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 June 2008 Back to Table of Contents Back to Archives Main Page Section: Life & Leisure Keeping Up With the Malone Group Story and photos by Anthony Chabala
Headed by Jim Malone, a 68-year-old retired engineer who has lived in Amherst for the last 43 years with his wife Sharon, this group of gentlemen get together each day to play golf, wager a few dollars, eat, tip back a beverage of choice, and most importantly, laugh. This is a very tight group of guys who make their golf club very special. People wonder why some golfers decide to join golf and country clubs when the cost often seems extravagant, but it is a group like this and the fun they have together that keeps them coming back each year. “Good-natured ribbing,” is what the group’s leader calls the daily goings-on, and it is just that. The Malone Group consists of 12 golfers ranging from 59 to 77 years of age. In no particular order, Malone’s marauders are: Jim Malone, Dave Mclaughlin, Mike McManus, Al Mintz, Don Fries, Les Kamholz, Jim Grady, Charlie Kracht, Jerry Reynell, Marshall Wood, and the 2007 Tan Tara Club Champion, Dave Lipke. This love affair with golf, gaming and camaraderie amongst men all began in the mid-1980s. “Around 1985 the group began,” says Malone. “It became quite large quickly and eventually everyone wanted to play at different times, so we broke off into two groups. The group as we know it now came to life around 1990.” About 18 years have passed, yet some of the clubs they play with, shirts they wear, and the country’s president’s last name are all still the same. McManus, a retired New York State Trooper and one of the group’s long-ball hitters, has been a staple in the Malone Group for seven years. “They’re just a great bunch of guys to golf and joke around with,” he says. “One thing, though: they are very vicious enforcers of proper handicap procedure. They’ve been known to tear the buttons off the shirts of those who don’t comply as a symbol of the stripping of rank, like in the military.” Sarcasm aside, this group does take the handicap system seriously, and for good reason. According to Malone, “The handicap system allows us all to have fun competing against each other. We have everything from a scratch handicap to a 25 handicap in the group, and the handicap system levels the playing field. We like to put a little something on the line for competition’s sake, but never enough so anyone can get hurt. The most you can lose is $5.”
The Malone Group isn’t just for the lads; for quite a while they had a monthly gathering for their significant others. “We would all get together with the wives for drinks and a fish-fry one Friday each month. We’ve gotten away from it, but we’ll start doing it again soon,” says Malone. While joining a club like Tan Tara is relatively inexpensive, joining the Malone Group is not easy. “For quite a while we had a waiting list to join the group,” claims Malone. “We now have temporary fill-ins, but right now we have 12 secured spots. We are just a varied bunch of guys that enjoy playing golf with each other.” Joining a group of friends like this is as rewarding as it is enjoyable. You may not find a cast of characters like the Malone Group, but go out and start your own group. The loyalty and dedication to competition these gentlemen exude is contagious. Spending hours each day golfing, dining, and laughing sounds like a blissful way to spend your post-50 years. Anthony Chabala is a teaching professional at Tan Tara Golf Club in North Tonawanda. He is a PGA Apprentice and instructs multiple local club champions and top ranked amateurs. To ask a question or book a lesson, contact him at anthonychabala@yahoo.com. back to top back to table of contents Current Issue | About Forever Young | Where to Find | Advertise | Our Advertisers | Community Calendar | Contest | Clubs | Contact Us | Archives | Home |
