25-Year Participants Honored at World Am Handicap Championship

MYRTLE BEACH - Paul Ciancanelli, Gerald States and Don Yelton gathered around a table at the World Amateur Handicap Golf Championship’s 19^th Hole to trade stories, as they have done for 24 years. Disgruntled golf phrases such as “I’ve never put four good rounds together”, “Two good days and today I sucked a gas pipe” and “What do the pros say? You threw up on yourself” were overheard, part in honesty, part in jest.

These story-telling sessions, the friendships they’ve made and their love of the game of golf are all reasons why these men and 12 others just like them have returned to Myrtle Beach’s World Am each and every year since it began in 1984. 

The 15 men who have competed in all 25 World Amateur Handicap Championships were honored by Myrtle Beach Mayor John Rhodes on Wednesday, each being called to the stage by name to receive a commemorative plaque for his accomplishment. In addition to the ceremony, all 25-year participants had their entry fees waived for this year's World Am and were given a golf shirt and a personalized golf bag.

A lot has changed since the inception of the event. A large scoreboard, similar to the kind you'd expect at a PGA Tour event displays the leaders in bright lights every night at the after-party known as the 19^th Hole. Originally, the scores were counted and displayed by hand.

When the World Am first started, less than 700 people participated. This year, 3,623 golfers were registered.

Most of the players celebrating their Silver anniversaries at the World Am heard about the tournament through an advertisement in Golf Digest. Now, the championship has its own Web site to update returning and potential players with blogs, video diaries and newsletters 365 days a year.

"There is a lot more gray hair now then there was 25 years ago," Yelton, whose brother Bob has also played in the event for 25 years, reminded everyone in his group.

Over the years, these men have returned to Myrtle Beach with an unshakeable promptness, akin to birds migrating south for the winter. The memories they've made in the past are recalled, and fresh ones are added.

Fred Pugh, who hails from Columbia, S.C., is the proud owner of a rather infamous tale. One year he recorded a 27 on one hole, using his entire handicap. "You can't run me away from this tournament," he said during the 25^th anniversary celebration.

Ciancanelli, who travels to Myrtle Beach each year from Indiana, recalled one of his more memorable shots before he headed to the stage.

"I was playing with a fellow named Gordon Knight," said Ciancanelli. "I had all white on and it was our first hole of the day at Waterway Hills . I hit my third shot in the water; half the ball was out and I told him I'm going to hit it.

"The other guys were waiting on the green; I hit out and mud goes flying through the air," he recalled. "I am covered in mud all the way up my left side and the ball plops, covered in mud two inches from the hole. Gordon Knight yells out, "He's a player!"

States, who resides in Baden, P.A., is quite a player in his own right. The 15.6 Handicap has spent a few days on the leaderboard during his years at the World Am. For States, the goal has never been to win the event, although that would've been nice, but play as many golf courses on the Grand Strand as he could.

"I was on a mission," said States. "When I first came down here in 1984, there were 36 golf courses. I said I'm going to play every one of these courses. But they build 'em quicker than I can play them. Now I've got 109."

The group took turns naming their favorite courses which included Rivers Edge, Thistle , Grand Dunes , Caledonia , The Dunes Club and anything at the Legends. Yelton recalled the first course he ever played in the event, Gator Hole, which like some that used to be in the World Am rotation, has closed its doors.

"A lot of courses we played no longer exist," Yelton said.

At a combined age of 1,053 years young, this group could talk about the World Am all day, and some of them do. Pugh joked that he could write a book about everything he's experienced here. The group gathered around him, listening to his stories thought that was a fantastic idea.

Of course, everyone plans to be back next year, when the World Am turns 26.

States used his response to elicit a laugh from the group, but there was little doubt he was serious.

"If I'm breathing and I'm able to walk upright, I'll be here." 

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