MIDDLE ATLANTIC BLIND GOLF
ASSOCIATION
MABGA
Turning Obstacles Into Opportunities
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MABGA History
The Middle Atlantic Blind Golf Association (MABGA) Sixty-four Years of Turning Obstacles into Opportunities
The story of the Middle Atlantic Blind Golf Association (MABGA) began with Robert Allman's desire to share the joys of golf with other blind friends and his plan to organize competitive golf within the blind community.
During the 1948 golf season MABGA evolved from the idea stage into the reality of a small group of blind golfers playing rounds of golf at the Juniata Golf Club of Philadelphia, each Sunday, through the help of Joe Hunsberger, the Golf Professional and his assistants. Along with Bob Allman, the group included: Ben Pearlman, Phil Tuso and we believe Dr. Simon Van Wagenen. These Blind Heroes turned obstacles into opportunities, through much practice and effort.
Robert G. Allman, Esquire, was the founder of MABGA. Due to an accident at the age of 4, Bob lost his sight. He attended the Overbrook School for the Blind where he learned many of the skills that served him throughout his lifetime. It was Bob’s determination that enabled him to excel in many areas of life including a wrestling championship and Phi Beta Kappa, while attending the University of Pennsylvania, Managing a successful marriage while raising four sons and running a busy law practice. Throughout his lifetime, Bob Allman had a powerful impact on many people, sighted and blind, alike.
MABGA's first president, Francis Strawbridge, Jr. used his philanthropic nature to help the association grow. During his many years of service as the First President of MABGA, he also added the prestige of the Strawbridge name, at a time when little was known about either blind golf or about MABGA. As MABGA's founder, Bob Allman’s friend, Mr. Strawbridge undertook many of the administrative and leadership duties when he was elected the association’s first president in 1949. He continued his duties in helping MABGA to prosper, over the next decade and beyond. Without the leadership and guidance of Bob Allman and Francis Strawbridge Jr., MABGA would have been hard pressed to achieve all that it has over these last sixty-four years.
Phil Tuso was not only a good golfer but also a great Golf Outing Chairman, who served MABGA for over thirty years. His duties included contacting golf clubs throughout the area and soliciting them for golf outing dates. He was also responsible for preparing a yearly golf schedule. We have been informed that Phil kept all these facts in his head, announcing the next outing date and its location at the conclusion of each golf outing. The golf outing chairman has been referred to as the backbone of the organization and this description fit Phil to a tee.
Ben Pearlman was a man who thrived on the challenges that golf and life presented. Ben spent his early years in an orphanage where he developed a keen mind and a highly competitive nature. He had a gruff exterior but when he got to know you, it would dissolve to show a genuinely caring person. Ben was a gambler who continually beat the odds by leading a successful life.
The Middle Atlantic Blind Golf Association (MABGA) Sixty-four Years of Turning Obstacles into Opportunities
Dr. Simon Van Wagenen was a blind golfer who possessed great foresight. His efforts to spread blind golf across America in the fifties played a big part in the development of several additional chapters of MABGA from Florida to New York. He envisioned regional blind golf groups from coast to coast. He endeavored to achieve this goal throughout his lifetime. As far as MABGA is concerned, he was truly the Johnny Appleseed of blind golf.
MABGA continues its undertaking of assisting other blind golfers throughout the country in their efforts to start regional blind golf groups. MABGA helps by sharing its talents and experiences, as well as sharing other resources whenever possible. IN recent years, MABGA has helped the efforts of a blind group in Erie, Pennsylvania to establish a regional blind golf association for their area. Another Blind Golf group in Albany, New York also traces its roots to MABGA.
MABGA's first president, Francis Strawbridge Jr. and our original blind members are all gone, with Robert Allman being the last to leave us, in the spring of 1994. Without their pioneering spirit, MABGA would not be enjoying such success today.
MABGA signed its Charter on March 22, 1950 and was incorporated as a 501c3 non-profit corporation in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Throughout the fifties MABGA continued to grow in both blind golfer membership and volunteer coaches.
A history of MABGA would be incomplete without mentioning the great efforts of our men and women coaches. In order to be successful, a good coach must be generous with his or her time, skills and most importantly patience. Coaching is a labor of love. The coaches act as the eyes of the blind. Many coaches say that they enjoy seeing their blind golfer hit a good shot more than by hitting a good shot themselves. The association's coaches are a major reason for MABGA’s success!
Since MABGA’s beginning, sixty-four years ago, many private and public golf courses throughout the Delaware Valley and beyond, have contributed to MABGA's success. We could not have remained in existence without the cooperation and generosity of the many host golf clubs that continue to sponsor outings for our blind golfers.
As the association grew, MABGA expanded the number of golf outings and developed a strong relationship with the many golf professionals of the Delaware Valley and beyond. One of the earliest friendships was with the late Skee Reagal. He showed a lot of enthusiasm for helping others. Through his efforts, MABGA became a more recognized name throughout the golfing community and beyond. He introduced the blind golfers to a number of important people in the Philadelphia golf community, especially Tiny Pedone, a local golf professional and entrepreneur. In 1956 Tiny Pedone embarked on a journey, which would link his name with MABGA as strongly as any other, in our history. He served as president during the seventies and dedicated a quarter of a century to serving MABGA. The Middle Atlantic Blind Golf Association (MABGA) Sixty-four Years of Turning Obstacles into Opportunities
Ercole Oristaglio was MABGA's senior statesman for more than fifty years, until his death in the summer of 2000. He added strength and stability to a young and growing association. He served many years as the association’s Vice-President. During the eighties, he shouldered most of the responsibility of keeping MABGA going strong.
One of MABGA's first lady golfers, Lillian Birsch, joined the association in the fifties and started a tradition before her death, which has inspired all of MABGA's current lady golfers to always strive for excellence.
The sixties brought further expansion and with it some key new people who have helped to make MABGA stronger today. Joseph De Francisco was a good friend of Tiny Pedone and served as MABGA's president during the sixties and early seventies. His leadership and other talents were key resources for MABGA during that time.
Until about six months ago, before his death, MABGA’s most senior member was Don Lorah, who joined MABGA as a blind golfer in 1964. Along with his golfing skills, Don had served the organization in many ways, including as vice president and as MABGA's secretary. Along with Gil Kayson, Don was one of MABGA's Life Members. This is a special honor reserved for members who demonstrate their skills and talent in serving MABGA well.
Some additional key members, who joined the association in the sixties included David Kriskoff, a blind veteran and golfer, who joined MABGA in 1969. His enthusiasm for golf and life made him a valuable asset to the association. Judy Girmangen joined MABGA in the mid sixties. Frank D'Ottavi was an excellent blind golfer, who still holds many of MABGA's scoring records. He played until he died in 1984 and is remembered as a great golfer. Our Director of Golf, Al Balukas, first became associated with MABGA in 1969 as an assistant to Tiny Pedone, at Edgmont Country Club. Al was selected as MABGA's first "Person of the Year" in 1993. Today, he continues to play a key role in serving MABGA’s Junior and Senior Programs.
Sadly, the seventies closed with the deaths of Tiny Pedone and Phil Tuso, two giants of the Association. They are remembered for their accomplishments on and off the golf course.
The eighties brought a decade of transition. Micky Charles followed Tiny Pedone as president. He served the association for several years before moving on to other commitments. Leonard Nucero was a coach before serving as president through most of the eighties. With the strong support and leadership of his vice president and golf outing chairman, Ercole Oristaglio, Len helped start MABGA back on a path of growth, which still continues today. Leonard was a good man and leader, who passed away in 1999. Under President Nucero’s leadership, MABGA opened its doors to all blind golfers, including those with some vision. This open door policy is responsible for much of MABGA's membership growth. The Middle Atlantic Blind Golf Association (MABGA) Sixty-four Years of Turning Obstacles into Opportunities
Tom Madden, Jerry Monroe and Lou Giraldi were special members who joined in the eighties and have since passed away. each served as blind golfers and leaders of MABGA’s progress for many years.
Tom Madden was "The Little Big Man" of MABGA during the late eighties and early nineties. Tom was a little guy with a big heart. He learned how to play golf after losing his sight and mastered the game quickly, regularly hitting the ball right down the middle of the fairway. Tom also used his talents and skills for the betterment of MABGA. He served as Chairman of the Golf Outing Committee and as second vice president. Tom did the bookkeeping for our first fund raising golf tournament. He was always willing to help whenever needed. Since his death in 1993, he has been missed by all of his friends at MABGA.
Jerry Monroe, who passed in 1995, was a blind veteran who used his skills in golf to achieve two key goals. He wanted to show that a blind person, when motivated can turn obstacles into opportunities; Jerry also wanted to share his wealth of talent with those less fortunate than he. With the assistance of his family, Jerry ran an annual charity golf tournament in cooperation with the PGA to support the Blinded Veterans Administration, which helps hospitalized blinded veterans. Through this yearly event, the Monroe family was able to raise over $100,000 for a very worthy cause, while showing the nation what a blind person can accomplish, when motivated.
Another blinded Veteran, Lou Giraldi, who passed in 2009 served MABGA for three decades. Lou was the Golf Committee Co-Chairman, MABGA’s historian and served as both second and first Vice-President. He was always ready to take a leadership roll.
A number of MABGA's present members joined the association during the eighties. Alphabetically, they are: Tom Brozena, Jim Ganter, Gil Kayson and Joe Wallace. Several other blind golfers, who joined MABGA in the 80s and have since passed away, were Dick Deats, Mickie Goldsmith, Al Musumeci, Helen Pinkney, Larry Ruttenberg, Harry Summerille and Noel Jannotta.
The end of the eighties brought new leadership with Rudy Pileggi, as president and the establishment of a Board of Governors for the administrative duties to run the association. The nineties continued MABGA's growth in three key ways: it increased its membership; it brought the inception of the MABGA Invitational Golf Tournament (our major fund raising event); and most important, the start of the MABGA Blind Junior Golf Program.
A number of our present active members joined MABGA in the nineties. alphabeticly they are: Michael Connell, Jim Foyle, Tom Harrington, Sam Huhn, Jim Hunt, George Pilz, two brothers, Miles and Rod Ryan, Carol Sexton and Mike Swenton. Two others, Tom Kartachak and Mike Kurowski have both retired due to health complications. Another, Hank Ball passed away in 2010 after serving MABGA for years with his ideas, efforts and support. The Middle Atlantic Blind Golf Association (MABGA) Sixty-four Years of Turning Obstacles into Opportunities
Starting in 1993 with the naming of Al Balukas, as MABGA's "Person of the Year", the association had chosen a worthy recipient for ten straight years. In 1994 the recipient was Carl Baird (deceased). In 1995 It was Esther freedman, Then Tom Smith in 1996, Gloria Halliday in 1997, Rudy Pileggi in 1998, the 1999 recipient was Norman Kritz, the 2000 recipient was Gil Kayson, the 2001 recipient was Lenora Kriskoff and in 2002 it was Norman Martin. These special people have all been honored for their dedication to MABGA and for their tireless efforts on its behalf! In the future, we will continue to honor worthy recipients.
MABGA is most proud of its Junior Golf Program, which started in the fall of 1993. Under the leadership of Gil Kayson, the chairman, and with the strong assistance of Norman Kritz, Al Balukas and others, MABGA has developed the Blind Junior Golf Program to its current place as a key part of the association. With the cooperation of the Philadelphia Section of the PGA, MABGA has operated the program, which continues to grow with more blind boys and girls joining each year. MABGA has improved the program by providing individual lessons and equipment for each junior golfer. This program is the first known joint effort between a PGA Section and a regional blind golf association. MABGA's goal is to help extend this program to blind children across the entire country and beyond.
MABGA, with the help of its friends at the Overbrook School for the Blind, and through the efforts of Norman Kritz and his family, constructed a pitch and putt course and practice green in the spring of 1996 on the school campus. Our Blind Junior Golfers use it for both competition and practice. The pitch and putt course is named in honor of our founder and serves as a memorial to Robert Allman, for his efforts on behalf of blind golf.
During the winter of 1990/1991, MABGA took a major step toward turning a long time dream, into a reality. 1992 marked the first MABGA Invitational Golf Tournament, which was hosted by Edgmont Country Club in August. The event was a big success under the leadership of Joe Wallace, the first Chairman of the Tournament Committee. This event is MABGA’s yearly major fund raising effort and teams both sighted and blind golfers in a fun -filled format. Today, MABGA's members and coaches organize, operate and participate in this annual golf tournament, with the committee moving the event to a different golf club almost yearly.
During the nineties, the association revised its by-laws. Under the leadership of its three presidents, Rudy Pileggi, Joseph Bitman and Norman Martin MABGA was able to achieve many of its goals.
Rudy Pileggi has been a volunteer coach since the mid sixties. During his presidency and later, serving as MABGA Treasurer, Rudy continues to be a driving force in helping MABGA to reach its goal to become better organized. He initiated regular board meetings and expanded membership in MABGA’s many committees.
The Middle Atlantic Blind Golf Association (MABGA) Sixty-four Years of Turning Obstacles into Opportunities
In the mid-nineties, Dr. Joe Bitman continued MABGA's progress toward building its blind junior golf program. Joe started as a coach for his wife, Louise. In a short time his enthusiasm and leadership skills propelled him to the presidency of MABGA. Joe led by example and was always generous with his time and efforts. His death in 1997 was an especially difficult loss for all of MABGA‘s blind golfers and coaches.
Norman Martin joined MABGA as a volunteer coach in the early nineties. Like his predecessors, Norman demonstrated the same great leadership skills, which brought him success in business. During his presidency, Norman prepared MABGA for a great future.
On January 1, 2002, MABGA altered a long-time tradition, which began with Francis Strawbridge Jr. Until this time, all eight Presidents of MABGA had been fully sighted. MABGA elected its first totally blind President, Jim Ganter. With the guidance and support, of the Board of Governors, Jim undertook the same role of leadership and duties as his predecessors for the past ten years. Under the new leadership of Michael Connell, MABGA will continue to evolve from its humble beginnings to face the challenges of the future.
This new millennium has brought a number of new members to MABGA. These new members include: Philip Aley, Laura Berridge, Gilda Ellis, Deborah Groeber, Jane Harper, John Herbert, Myung Hong, Deana Kennedy, Leah Kinzinger, Brian Mackey who joined our Senior Program through his earlier participation in the Junior Blind Golf Program, Mary Alice Middleton, Walter Rosiak, Joseph Sikora, Jon Thoenebe, Mario Tobia, Frances Traylor and Wayne White. Other members who joined but are no longer physically able to play golf include: Fred Ciccetelli, Vince Davis, Ken Good, David Mc artin, Henry Wessel and Milt Wiseman. Walter Casebeer played this decade until his death in 2008. Clarence Minus joined in this past decade but passed just a few months ago. These new members and still others yet to come, will help form the foundation for MABGA’s Future!
During this past decade, MABGA has continued to shine, strengthening both our adult membership and that of our Blind Junior Golf Program, in our area and beyond. MABGA is working toward an even more productive future. The organization is committed to spreading the news about blind golf across America and beyond. The association has created and maintained an internet website, to enhance the association's efforts to broaden the public’s awareness of blind golf. We welcome you to log on and learn more about MABGA at www.mabga.org.
By James Ganter and the late Louis Giraldi |