By Gregor Masefield, AIA

An amazing sunny fall day, light breeze, beautiful Basin Harbor, and a day away from work…what else could you ask for?  Really, this is a great event, and for a great cause: AIAVT’s scholarship fund. Each year, this event raises money that AIAVT awards to students pursuing an education in design. And, if you need more, it is also an amazing organic networking opportunity!

Our foursome was courtesy of Windows and Doors by Brownell, whose underwriter sponsorship offered two teams to emerging professionals and misfits like us. That said, our team couldn’t have been a better make up of women and men that may not normally play at this event: our team included the Director of the Architecture and Engineering Department of the Hannaford Career Center, a freelance designer and artist, a principal from a big Vermont firm, and a sole proprietor architect. From skill levels, we rounded out the spectrum too, from beginners shooting in the 100s to the hard-core golfer shooting in the 70s and everything in between…and it didn’t matter!  We had a blast and later learned we were one stroke from third place, only to find a week later that one of us still had two unused strings!

Teeing off at the first hole is always the hardest and most stressful event of a day on the links. We did have some epic drives, chips, putts as well as “Short putts by short folks” and “long drives into the tall grass (and ponds!) by tall folks” and other cracks, not worthy of mention here, were among the ice breakers between our team.  

But the “organic networking” and general hysteria of our unconventional approach to competitive golf are the real headlines here. The 11th hole is where our group began talking about not work, but our industry.  The question was posed by Jake Burnham, of the Hannaford Career Center, “what would you say interests your practice more when it comes to hiring interns, design skills and thought process? Or production skills and CAD proficiency?” Wow, a serious question affecting all of us in the construction industry!  Fortunately, we were backed up at this point and had the chance to exchange viewpoints on the subject, ultimately to no conclusion. Jake is now looking into becoming an Associate member of AIAVT and the Emerging Professionals network to continue the conversation. 

AIAVT’s annual Guy Teschmacker memorial golf tournament aims to do exactly this, have fun, make new connections and fund our student scholarship fund.  I’d like to think that with more random mixings like this one we can expand the tournament, grow our relationships and bring more people into our community. I hope to see you on the course next year!

Congratulations to this year’s tournament winners:

First Place: The Crown Point team, including Brian Stowell, Todd Templeton, Shawn Currier, and Josh Carpenter

Second Place: The Poole Professional team, including Elizabeth Mullard, Tom Mullard, Tom Bursey, and Wayne Nelson

Third Place: The Mohawk & New England Floor Covering team, including Bill Kienol, Nigel Macklow, Deb Jackson, and Tom Barden

Longest Drive, Men: Fran Estey

Longest Drive, Women: Deb Jackson

Closest to the Pin, Men: Ed Cowey

Closest to the Pin, Women: Eileen Hee

Putting Contest:  Corey Pronto

Thank you to our event sponsors: 

Underwriter: Windows & Doors by Brownell

Eagle Sponsors: Engineering Ventures, Poole Professional

Birdie Sponsors: Crown Point Cabinetry, TruexCullins, Scott & Partners, DEW Construction

Par Sponsor: Black River Design 

Putting Green Sponsor: Efficiency Vermont

Closest to the Pin & Hole sign sponsor: PC Construction 

Check out the full photo album from the tournament on our Facebook page.