Golf tourney coordinator and GCIU Rochester 503M Pres. Lynn Lanphear, left, presents a cut glass cup, symbolic of the low gross winner, to Steve Bell of Vancouver 525M during the awards presentation banquet. The man for whom the GCIU Guy DeVito Golf Outing is named, retired Secy.-Treas. Guy DeVito, left, chats with retired International Rep.Bill McFadden during the orientation meeting at the Breakers Hotel in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Ready to shoot for holes-in-one are, from left, Rich Catalano of Chicago 458M, GCIU Secy.- Treas. Gerald Deneau, Larry Olson of St. Paul 1B, and Chicago 458M retiree Carmen Gambino. A founder of the annual GCIU golf outing, Guy DeVito, second from left, participates every year. This year, his foursome included: his son Terry DeVito, left, and Jay Conyard and Pat Reynolds, right, both of Rochester 503M. Golf tourney guest Linda Whitworth tracks a drive she hit straight down the fairway at Myrtle Beach National North course. Richard Whitworth, executive assistant to GCIU Pres. George Tedeschi, shows the concentration of putting the last few feet into the four-inch-wide cup.

An old saying about persistence refers to letter carriers who let "neither snow nor sleet" stop them from delivering the mail. It seems the same persistence is also true of golfers, judging by the golfers and guests at the GCIU's Eighth Annual Guy DeVito Golf Outing. These golfers proved that the elements – including frost on the fairways at supposedly balmy Myrtle Beach, S.C., in October – did not deter them from their game. An unusual early cold front invaded the deep south on the third day of play. Those who did not pack long pants and sweaters paid the price. The cold weather and strong wind was the topic of conversation as golfers started play in the early morning after a delay of a half hour because of frost on the fairways. But the dedicated duffers all played. As the day warmed up and the cold winds abated, the players showed it would take more than a touch of morning frost to ruin their game. The GCIU tourney is named after golf enthusiast and retired GCIU Secy.-Treas. Guy DeVito, who competed in the tourney. DeVito was the GCIU's financial officer until 1996, when he retired. His successor, current GCIU Secy.-Treas. Gerald H. Deneau, was one of the golfers who competed in the 2001 tourney. This year the four-day golf tourney drew 85 golfers – GCIU members from across the United States and Canada and their guests – to compete against players of similar abilities. Both experts and duffers can win The first day at the famed Wicked Stick golf club provided an opportunity for tourney officials to divide the group into six different flights according to their performance on the first day. Although golfers played in their assigned foursomes, they were slotted into different flights for scoring purposes. This leveled the playing field and ensured that entrants with high handicaps did not have to compete against low-handicap golfers to win prizes awarded for each level of play. The three-day competition gave the GCIU group a chance to play some of America's best known golf courses at Myrtle Beach, a city on the Atlantic shores that is renowned for its wonderful golf courses. Tourney participants played at Wicked Stick on Thursday, Myrtle Beach National North Course on Friday, and Myrtle Beach National West Course on a frigid Saturday. The competitors, who ranged from par golfers to those with high handicaps, found the Friday course, Myrtle Beach National North, particularly difficult. The course is known for its many lakes to lure golf balls hit by experts and duffers alike. And chances of losing balls were high over the 18 holes played. A 'fun' tournament During the tourney orientation session where players were given directions to the various courses for the three days of play, tournament coordinators Lynn R. Lanphear, president of Rochester 503M and Ronald E. Johnson, president of Syracuse 284M, went over the rules and tee times and explained the scoring system dividing players into flights. They called the GCIU gathering a "fun" tournament that has drawn many regular entrants from the U.S. and Canada over the years. They went over the list of sponsors who donated prizes to be won and answered questions from entrants. It was also an opportunity for GCIU golfers from across North America to renew friendships they had made in past years at the Guy DeVito tourney. Everyone was a winner After the play was over at the tourney, the coordinators got together to review the scores in each of the six flights. A beautiful cut-glass cup went to the overall winner, Steve Bell of Vancouver 525M, who posted a score of 155. He led the first flight, followed by guests Dick Graf with a score of 157 and Terry DeVito, who came in at 164. The second flight was headed by Jim Elkins of OKI 508M with a 167 score, followed by Mark Pennington of Midwest Newspaper 128N and Wayne Thul of St. Paul 1M. The third flight was won by Tom Turner, a Columbus 15N retiree, with a score of 182, followed by Carmen Gambino, a Chicago 458M retiree, and Austin Trammell of OKI 508M. The fourth flight was topped by Kevin O'Connor of Providence 12N, who shot 192, with Tony Albert of Chicago 458M in second position, followed by Will Campbell of OKI 508M. The fifth flight winner was Joe Pelham of Chicago 458M with a 184 score, with Jeff Byrne of Local 458M in second place and guest Mike Osborne in third place. The sixth flight was won by guest Marvel Adams, who scored 221. She was followed by Bob Hopkins of 128N and Dave Roe of 458M. The long drive at Wicked Stick was won by Jamie McPherson of Kansas City 235M, the closest to the pin on the 16th hole was Wayne Thul of St. Paul 1M, and closest to the pin on the fifth hole was guest Terry DeVito. The long drive at Myrtle Beach National North course was John Whaler of 458M, and closest to the pin on hole 4 was Jim Elkins of Local 508M and closest on hole 12 was guest Ernie Dodge. Long-drive honors at Myrtle Beach National West course went to guest Ted Ferneza. Closest to the pin on hole 4 was Dave Hampton of Vancouver 525M, and closest on hole 13 was Pat Reynolds of Rochester 503M. The prize table in the Breakers Hotel banquet room was stacked with all sorts of equipment for the golfer: drivers, clubs and putters, golf bags, jackets, and boxes and boxes of new balls. The prizes, donated by sponsors, were handed out to the winners. Then a raffle was held to award prizes to those who had not gotten any. So, every GCIU member and guest who went to Myrtle Beach left for home with a prize. The sponsors included ULLICO, Inc.; DeLancey Printing; American Time Products; and participants like retired Chicago 458M member Carmen Gambino, who donated a putter to the prize pool. As the golfers were exiting the banquet hall, there were many friendly goodbyes with the phrase: "See you next year."

GCIU golfers and their guests fill a meeting room for the orientation meeting.