Pete's Golf Classic

Labor Day is an American tradition in several ways.

First of all, the Monday in September honors all who toil in oh so many ways to not only earn a living but also contribute to the economic growth of our county. That's the official meaning of the holiday.

Most of us, however, see Labor Day as the unofficial end of Summer. Vacation time winds down and work schedules get back to something near normal.

For most of us over 40 or 50, Labor Day meant the start of the school year but that has gone by the wayside. Most schools now resume in mid-August.

But for several dozen men, most of them golfers to various degrees, Labor Day has an extra meaning––much of it steeped in tradition. Tuesday, the day after Labor Day, it's time for what informally is known as Pete's Golf Classic, a three to four day golf outing in Reno, Nev. And while only about a handful of original Pete's Golf Addicts (PGA) still participate, the annual event is still alive and very well. And tradition as well as the actual playing of golf is still doing well.

I've heard about this golf trip for about a dozen years but since moving to Woodlake I've learned a little more each year. Pete Legakes lived in Woodlake and so did most of the original PGA members.

In the early years the Nevada trip was practically an invitation only deal. In later years things got a little easier but still a golfer had to know a PGA member, be related to one or work with one.

In earlier days trophies were awarded to tournament winners. One first place and the rest second -place.

Today there are no trophies but the winning team "wins" a cash prize, funded by the golf and prize fees which are included in the overall cost of the excursion. Although there have been one or two-exceptions, the winning team, one each day, hands over the prize money which is bet on a casino crap table. If the roller craps out, everyone is on their own for dinner that night. But if the dice or the designated roller is hot, the pot goes to financing dinner for the whole group which usually runs to several hundred dollars, even with the generally moderate Casino meal prices.

The honor of rolling the dice traditionally goes to one of the original PGA members. This year the first-golf-day roller started with the $280 team winnings and between two players the group left the crap table with just over $700. The buffet dinner was great, the tip was good and the 4-man team winners each walked away with some cash. Of course the "roll," attended by practically all the group members garners attention in the casino. There's lots of shouting and applause, even if there is a crap out which happened the second day of golf. A little less prime rib, salmon, lobster and streak was consumed by PGA members that evening.

Like fishermen, golfers have lots of stories about their sport. Pete's golf Classic has given birth to hundreds of golf stories over the years. Some of the most fantastic shots are made during this trip. Some of the strangest golf shots are made on this trip. Some of the worse golf shots are made on this trip. But pholks that's what makes this annual outing a classic.

One day I played a little below my average. The next day, I hit some of the best shots I can remember. My team didn't win, and my team didn't care––nor did the other guys.

We played and we had phun. And the tradition rolls on.

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