Eventful Days: 2023 Blockbuster & Dog Bowl

Ladies and gentlemen of Club TFE,

It is 11:36 p.m. ET on June 25 as I write to you. I am currently on my way west after spending the last week on the East Coast with Andy and Matt, along with many of you at a couple of our events. We hosted both the Blockbuster at Hollywood Golf Club and Dog Bowl at Yale Golf Course over the last week, and I have a few notes to get out, as I did after the Steamshovel at Lawsonia.

Please don’t take it as a slight if I don’t mention your name below. My flight was supposed to take off at 4:45 p.m. and my brain is a bit mushy after spending eight hours at Newark.

On that note, I want to single out Gavin Rowatt, Brett Allen, Connor Cherer, Steven Panos, Kent Davis, and Eric Vanevenhoven for doing both events with us last week. We always love repeat visitors, but to do two events in the same week is quite a feat. If I missed anyone’s name, please let me know and I’ll make sure this is updated properly!

Things that will stick with me from the Blockbuster…

We almost always visit and scout our event locations before hosting at a club, but we made an exception for Hollywood GC. And boy are we glad we did. This set of Walter Travis greens is truly world class, and although we will always advocate for modest green speeds, Hollywood’s are great in any condition.

If you ever find yourself in a pairing with Srikar Komanduri, Sujay Peramanu, and Abhay Aluri, get ready for a great time.

I think Lance Holloway is somehow getting taller? And even more pleasant to be around, if that’s even possible.

Speaking of pleasant, Kevin Roak and Win Aukamp are just delightful.

CJ and Bill Gallo have made a yearly tradition of teaming up as a father-son duo in a TFE Event, and while they haven’t emerged victorious yet, they unequivocally win best hair duo every time they show up.

Bob Havasy likes to pretend he’s more experienced than he is. The wily vet can still move the ball!

We’ve met a few people through the internet that we haven’t exactly enjoyed in real life. Matt Grady is not one of them. Great dude.

Jed Moller may be the earliest TFE adopter that I’ve met. If anyone can prove they subscribed to the newsletter before May 2016 please reach out.

I didn’t get a chance to meet Nate Gentile at Hollywood, but thankfully he caught up to us while we were setting up Yale three days later. Consider yourself lucky if you’re ever in his pairing.

2023 Blockbuster Champions

Low Net – Jay Yarow & Gabriel Rehak (-4)

Low Gross – John Marshall & Dom Lee (E)

Things that will stick with me from the Dog Bowl…

I will never tire of watching people experience the par-3 ninth hole at Yale. It’s an unbelievable golf hole, and it boggles the mind to consider playing it in the 1920s and 30s.

Huge shoutout to Barbara Davis for dealing with all of us buffoons at Yale. Golf is ever so slowly becoming a bit more inclusive, but we have plenty of work to do on that front, and we will always be looking for new ways to encourage more women to attend our events.

Not only are the O’Neils a great set of identical twins, it was fun to see Bill return to his alma mater and play the golf course for the first time. Our poor guy was too busy being a good student back in the day to worry about golf.

There were not one, not two, not three, but four O’Briens at Yale on Saturday! Thankfully they seemed to be on my side, otherwise they could have definitely taken power very quickly.

Ausin Mixsell is a fantastic shepherd around Yale GC. Exquisite gentleman as well.

Ira Ellison can crush the golf ball. Don’t be surprised if he shows up on the first tee and blows it by you.

Generation Z is starting to weave its way into TFE events. Tommy Mcguane & Charlie/Chuck/Chaz Joerger were a great pairing for us to dip out toes into the “Z Pool.”

I met my first Mauricio! Great to have you out, Mr. Palazzi.

Kevin Van Cleef is just the best. And he can seriously golf the ball with his hickories.

2023 Dog Bowl Champions

Low Net – Tie – Ryan Gilbert & Jordan Mouton (-7) & Charles Russell & Cam Scully (-7). Gilbert & Mouton won overall via chip off.

Low Gross – John Elliott & Wes Hopkins (+4)

Up next, Prairie Dunes.

And if you’d like to attend a TFE Event this year, we have spots still available at The Junction at CommonGround in Denver!