History of the Club
History of Fearrington Golf Club (written by John O'Sullivan in tribute to Gerry Safferman)
The Fearrington Golf Club was officially launched in July of 1990. Prior to this launch several key residents including Gerry and Lillian Safferman cleared the way for a golf club.
Gerry and Lillian Safferman arrived in Fearrington in August of 1984. Longtime residents of Long Island, they had mutual interests in dogs, film, music, sailing, and golf--not necessarily in that order. Gerry also had a major interest in military history especially that of the civil War. They both looked forward to their annual visits to Gettysburg, some other civil War battleground, or, for a change of pace, to Annapolis. During their working lives, Lillian was an attorney and later in retirement served as President of the FHA.
During the latter half of the 1980's the Fearrington population increased dramatically and along with that also its supply of golfers. For years there had been talk of forming a Fearrington golf club. There was plenty of golf activity but it was largely unorganized. Not having a course of their own, the Fearrington golfers formed loose units of players who would wander the fairways and woods of the Hillandale, Finley, Sanford, and Twin Lakes golf courses. Some of our golfers belonged to the Triangle Seniors and would participate in monthly tournaments offered by that organization. For those not already members, however, the Triangle Seniors group had a waiting list of about two years. There were also members of local country clubs who could get as much golf as they liked at such as the Chapel Hill Country Club, for example. In addition, reduced rates for golf for a large number of courses were available for seniors by payment of a nominal annual fee to the sponsoring organization. The "Sandhill Seniors" was the most popular such discounted golfing arrangement available to FGC seniors.
Obviously there were ample opportunities for Fearrington golfers to play under a variety of conditions but there was no linkage, no common bond. To give form and substance to a uniquely Fearringtonian golfing experience, a local club was a precondition. Gerry Safferman saw this need and urged others to give serious consideration to the formation of a local club to meet our common golfing needs. As a result of Gerry's prodding, the first meeting of Fearrington golfers was held at the Gathering Place on Wednesday, July 25, 1990. Although a membership listing may be of little interest to more recent members of the FGC, such a listing may prove nostalgic to longtime members of the FGC.
The first meeting unstructured as it was did hold out the hope that through a free exchange of comments, ideas, and suggestions some kind of focus or sense of direction would emerge. The consensus was that there was an apparent need for a local Fearrington golf association that would enable each golfer to play a greater variety of golf courses and to share golfing experiences with many new partners. To get some sort of organizational structure started, the following volunteers agreed to assume the positions that follow until a more permanent arrangement could be made,
It was decided that each FGC member should be charged an initiation fee of $10. At this time the FGC was called the FGA (Fearrington Golf Association) and later a formal name in September of 1991. As scheduled, the first FGC tournament was held at the Sanford Golf Course on Wednesday, August 22, 1990 at which forty-four players competed. A modified Callaway system was used to determine the winners and prizes were awarded during the course of a hamburger cookout.
The second FGC tournament was held at the Quail Ridge Golf Course on October 31, 1990 at which fifty-five FGC players competed. Prizes were awarded the winners and all players enjoyed a picnic spread under a tent adjacent to the clubhouse. The success of our first two tournaments confirmed the belief that this was a club whose time had come.
At the time of the 1990 annual meeting on December 6th, the FGC membership had increased to seventy-eight consisting of sixty-seven men and eleven women. At the annual meeting President Safferman expressed satisfaction with the FGC in that we had gotten our club launched and operational although much remained to be done to make for a well balanced golfing organization. It was hoped that 1991's FGC leadership would result in the adoption of FGC By-laws, establish FGC rules of play (if USGA rules were to be modified), increase the FGC membership (especially the number of women), continue to improve our image on local courses (speeding up play, in particular), and to launch an annual fundraising tournament for a worthy cause.
At this point the FGC was an operating reality and Gerry decided it was time for him to step aside from an active leadership role. However, Gerry never ceased to point out to all who would listen that while quite properly enjoying FGC activities we have a continuing obligation to give back to the community from which we have received so much.
Over 3 decades have passed since the original launch of FGC. Members had changed over the years, and much changed has been reflected by the change in the community,
Presidents (and Staff)
2024 Al Sirignano (Ken Indyk, Fritz Chesek, Gerry Gianni, Chris Horn, Pat Skiver, Boyd Webb)
2023 Al Sirignano (Ken Indyk, Evelyn Paulson, Gerry Gianni, Chris Horn, Judd Barrett, Boyd Webb)
2022 Brian Wong (Don Southworth Gene Rogers, Jack Kowal, Tad McCardle, Frank Huisking)
2021 James Leatherberry
2020 Michael Manning
2019 George Lankevich
2018 Vince Tollers
2017 Gene Rogers
2016 Gary Kibler
2015 Gene Rogers
2014 Gordon Barg
2013 Ron Wiegerink
2012 Richard Parish
2011 Denny Holland
2010 Ed Bonahue
2009 El Tremblay
2008 Bruce Birch
2007 Jim Clark
2006 Mike Cotter
2005 Snuffy Howe
2004 Jim Kirkhoff
2003 John Karvazy
2002 Judy Gurlitz
2001 Chuck Giardino
2000 Ray Ivey
1999 Walt Lambert
1998 Don Judd
1997 Dick Maag
1996 Bill Hay
1995 Dick Melville
1994 Don Jones
1993 Jim Leftwich
1992 Frank Henrici
1991 Dave Earnest
1990 Gerry Safferman
Memorial Trophy Winners
2020 Dave Pitkin, Tad McArdle, and Bob Baker
2019 Tad McArdle and Tony Labate
2018 Jack Kowal, John Karvazy, Malcom Laner, and Frank Huisking
2017 Malcolm Laner, Boyd Webb, and Richard Beane
2016 Gary Kibler and Peter Vig
2015 Joe Labenson and Matt Reardon
2014 Richard Parish and Tom Townsend
2013 Pat Murphy and Paul Cannon
2012 David Chapman and George Lankevich
2011 Joe Lyons and Jack Tredinnick
2010 Richard Siebold and John Custer
2009 Bert Bowe and Robert Eby
2008 David Ayres and Ed Bonahue
2007 Bert Bowe and Robert Eby
2006 Joe Lyons and Chuck Giardino
The winners from 2006-2017 are listed on the trophy. Subsequent ones from 2018 will be awarded Golf Bag Tags.