MIDDLE ATLANTIC BLIND GOLF
ASSOCIATION
MABGA
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MABGA HISTORYFifty-Five Years of Turning Obstacles into Opportunities
The story of the Middle Atlantic Blind Golf Association (MABGA) starts 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.
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 his determination that enabled Bob to excel in many areas of life including a successful marriage, raising four sons, a successful law practice, a wrestling championship and Phi Beta Kappa, while attending the University of Pennsylvania. During his lifetime, Bob Allman had a powerful impact on many people, both sighted and blind.
MABGA's first president, Francis Strawbridge, Jr. used his philanthropic nature to help the association grow. During his many years of service as the 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 a friend of MABGA's founder, Bob Allman, 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. As part of MABGA's tradition, each year, the winning team of the annual Pro-Blind Golf Tournament has been awarded the Francis Strawbridge, Jr. Memorial Trophy. It helps MABGA to remember its first president and the success MABGA achieved under his leadership.
Phil Tuso was not only a good golfer but also a great Golf Outing Chairman serving MABGA for thirty years. His responsibilities 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. This was a remarkable feat and he made no mistakes. The golf outing chairman has often been referred to as the backbone of the organization and this description fit Phil to a tee.
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 the final years of his life. As far as MABGA is
concerned, he was t
MABGA's first president, Francis Strawbridge Jr., and our original blind members have all passed away, with Robert Allman being the last to go in the spring of 1994. Without their pioneering spirit, MABGA would not be enjoying such success today.
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 the blind golfer hit a good shot more than hitting a good shot themselves. The association's coaches are a major reason why MABGA has been successful for so many years.
From MABGA’s beginning fifty-five years ago, many private and public golf courses throughout the Delaware Valley have contributed to the association's success. MABGA 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 Skee Reagal. He showed a lot of enthusiasm for helping others. Through his efforts, MABGA became a more recognizable name within the golfing community. 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 an odyssey, 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’s interests.
Throughout the fifties MABGA continued to grow. MABGA signed its Charter on March 22, 1950 and was incorporated as a non-profit corporation in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania for the purpose of introducing the challenging game of golf to blind people living in the Middle Atlantic states.
Ercole Oristaglio, MABGA's senior statesman for more than fifty years, before his death in the summer of 2000, 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. Robert Frack, another blind member, was a good golfer until his health forced him to retire a few years ago. Frank LaTiere was MABGA's first member from New Jersey. He remained active in the association for over twenty years. One of MABGA's first lady golfers, Lillian Birsch, joined the association in the fifties and started a tradition, which has inspired all of MABGA's 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.
Don Lorah joined MABGA as a blind golfer in 1964. Along with his golfing skills, Don has served the organization in many ways, including as vice president and presently serves as MABGA's secretary. Along with Louis Giraldi, Don is 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. He still holds many of MABGA's scoring records. He played until his death in 1984 and is remembered as one of MABGA's best golfers.
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." Today, he continues to play a key role in MABGA.
During the decade of the seventies, under the strong leadership of two presidents, Joseph DeFrancisco and Tiny Pedone, the association continued to prosper. Ben Rubin was a coach and friend to MABGA for over 30 years. He served as MABGA's treasurer from the mid-seventies until his death in 1993. He was responsible for MABGA's fiscal stability for about twenty years.
In 1979, Louis Giraldi joined MABGA. Lou has served as co-chairman of the golf outing committee and as vice president of MABGA. He has served on many committees and is always ready to help when needed. Sadly, the decade closed with the deaths of Tiny Pedone and Phil Tuso, two giants of MABGA. They are remembered for their many 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 continues today. Leonard was a good man and leader, who passed away in 1999. Under his 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. Tom Madden and Jerry Monroe were special members who joined in the eighties and have since passed away. Both served as blind golfers and leaders.
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 called upon. He has been missed since his death in 1993.
Jerry Monroe 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 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 $100,000.00 for a very worthy cause, while showing the nation what a blind person can accomplish when he puts his mind to it. Jerry passed away in 1995 and is missed by friends and family.
A number of MABGA's present members joined the association during the eighties. Alphabetically, they are: Tom Brozena, Jim Ganter, Gil Kayson, Al Musumeci, Larry Ruttenberg and Joe Wallace. During the eighties, three new lady golfers joined MABGA. They were Mickey Goldsmith, Geraldine Liss and Helen Pinckney. All three ladies enjoyed being a part of MABGA and were very likable people. Unfortunately, they had to resign from MABGA due to health problems. Helen Pinckney passed away in January of 1999 and Mickey Goldsmith passed away in the spring of 1998. Mickey's husband Ed has been a golf coach and supporter of MABGA for twenty years. Several other blind golfers, who joined MABGA in the 80s and have passed away, were Dick Deats, Harry Summerille and Noel Jannotta.
The end of the eighties brought new leadership with the election of Rudy Pileggi, as president and the establishment of a Board of Governors to help with the administrative duties in running a growing organization.
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 the introduction of the MABGA Blind Junior Golf Program.
Many of our present active members joined MABGA in the nineties. In alphabetical order they are: Sam Aaron, Hank Ball, Jack Buhsmer, Paul Comaker, Mike Connell, Jim Foyle, Tom Harrington, Sam Huhn, Jim Hunt, Tom Kartachak, Mike Kurowski, Eve Lipman, Edgar Moon, George Pilz, two brothers, Miles and Rod Ryan, Joseph Sikora, Carol Sexton and Mike Swenton.
Starting in 1993 with the naming of Al Balukas, as MABGA's "Person of the Year," the association has chosen a worthy recipient every year. In 1994 the recipient was Carl Baird (deceased). In 1995 the recipient was Esther Freedman, followed by Tom Smith (1996), Gloria Halliday (1997), Rudy Pileggi (1998), Norman Kritz (1999), Gil Kayson (2000), Lenora Kriskoff(2001) and Norman Martin (2002). These people have been honored for their dedication to MABGA and for their tireless efforts on its behalf.
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 help 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 continuing to provide individual lessons and equipment for each junior golfer with the help of participating golf courses throughout the area. This pilot 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 country. 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 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 fund raising event, with the committee moving the event to a new golf club almost every year.
During the nineties, the association also updated and revised our by-laws. Under the leadership of three presidents, Rudy Pileggi, Joseph Bitman and Norman Martin MABGA was able to achieve many of its goals, including preparing for the new millennium.
Rudy Pileggi has been a volunteer coach since the mid sixties. During his presidency and later, serving as MABGA Treasurer, Rudy has been 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.
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 MABGA.
Norman Martin joined MABGA as a volunteer coach in the early nineties. Like his predecessors, Norman demonstrated the same leadership skills, which had brought him success in business. During his term of office, Norman prepared MABGA for the future.
In 1998 MABGA celebrated its Fiftieth Anniversary. Our members, coaches and friends joined together at the Philmont Country Club after that year’s MABGA Invitational Golf Tournament to commemorate the first fifty years of MABGA’s existence.
The year 2000 brought the death of a long time member and the “Senior Statesman” of MABGA, Ercole Oristaglio. He suffered an accident while playing golf and due to his failing health, was unable to recover. For those who knew him, Ercole’s spirit remains, as a constant reminder, that he continues to guide MABGA’s destiny.
On January 1, 2002, MABGA altered a tradition, which began with Francis Strawbridge Jr. Until this time, all eight Presidents of MABGA had been fully sighted. MABGA has elected its first totally blind president, Jim Ganter. With the guidance and support, of the Board of Governors, Jim is undertaking the same role of leadership and duties as his predecessors. MABGA will continue to evolve from its humble beginnings to face the challenges of the future.
This decade has brought a number of new members to MABGA. These new members include: Justin Benson, Rick Carocci, Fred Ciccetelli, John Herbert, Sam Pileggi and Mario Tobia.
MABGA is committed to spreading the news about blind golf across America and beyond. The association has created and maintained a web site: www.mabga.org to enhance MABGA's efforts to broaden the public’s awareness of blind golf.
By Louis Giraldi and James Ganter |
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 each Sunday, with the help
of Joe Hunsberger, the Head Golf Professional and his assistants, at the Juniata
Golf Club in Philadelphia. Besides Bob Allman, the group included: Ben Pearlman,
Phil Tuso and, we believe, Dr. Simon Van Wagenen. They turned obstacles into
opportunities, through practice and effort. 
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, which would eventually
dissolve to show a genuinely caring person. Ben was a gambler who continually
beat the odds by making a successful life for himself.
ruly 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, to establish a
regional blind golf association for the Erie area. A Blind Golf group in Albany,
New York traces its roots to MABGA.