Each Memorial Day Weekend, Zoar Golf Club holds the Zoar Memorial. This 36 hole competition for the amateur golfer also honors and remembers those players that have significantly contributed to the game of golf.
It has long been said that golf was a gentlemen’s game. In spite of the beer drinking events, the “you da man” crowds, and the fist-pumping inappropriate language from Tiger Woods, golf is still played by gentlemen and ladies. This year Zoar Golf Club would like to recognize and honor two of the true gentlemen of golf.
Honoree: Harold Shade
In 1961, Harold Shade came to Ohio and began his teaching career at Scio High School. He taught Math and Physical Education and was the head coach in basketball and the offensive coordinator in football. In 1963, he started and coached, the first golf team as well as the first baseball team at the school. In 1967, he became the principal of both the high school and elementary school. At that time Harold played in golf leagues at Big Bend and Green Valley, and in the mid-sixties, won the Clay City Open. On the first hole of the tournament, he recorded his first hole in one.
In 1969, he became the assistant Dean of the Kent State, Tuscarawas Campus, the position that he held for 11 years. During those years, his golf teams won 7 regional campus state championships. Harold also conducted golf instruction through the continuing education program until becoming the Dean in 1980.
During the next several years, he would go on to win 8 State tournaments as a member of the Knights of Pythias organization. After one of the tournaments was rained out on Sunday at Newark, he and 9 of the Pythian competitors came back to Atwood where they competed as two five-some’s. On #16, a short par 4 down the hill, this group recorded a straight. Harold had a hole in one, John Colombo had an eagle, Bill Ripley had a birdie, Shorty Carroll had a par, and Whitey Carroll had a bogey. This probably has never happened before or since.
At one time, Harold held the course record at both Green Valley and Atwood with scores of 63 shooting a 30 as part of each of those scores.
In the early 70’s, Harold had a leadership role in the TDGA and in the mid-seventies won the Class AA level by beating Dean Tarulli in a play-off . On the last day, Harold carried the lead by 6 shots at Green Valley only to be tied by Tarulli on the last nine when Dean fired a 30. After a coin flip, River Greens was the course for the play-off where Harold was the eventual winner.
After he retired from the University in 1994, he worked at Allied Machine and Engineering as Vice President of Human Resources, retiring in 2005. During that time, he was a member of Union Country Club where he served on the Board for 4 years and was President for 2 years. In the late 90’s, Harold and Steve Stokey won the Green Coat tournament. Harold was a member of two Union Country Club Oldsmobile Scramble teams that qualified for the nationals in Florida. He states that they were competitive. In contention the last day of the second year, ESPN followed them for a few holes until they did not continue to move further under par.
In his career, Harold has posted 6 holes-in-one but declares none have been in recent years. At 81 years of age, he plays most of his golf at Five-Waters in a scram ble concept and travels to various other courses on Fridays with that group. On occasion, from the forward tees, Harold can still shoot his age. He has played golf for 70 years starting as a caddy in the late 40’s. Although his high school did not have a golf team, he and another college golfer started the first golf team at Alderson Broaddus University where he lettered for 4 years.
He has made many friends over the last 60 years in the Tuscarawas Valley, and wants to play golf as long has he is able.
In Memoriam: Jim Hawk
This year the local golf community remembers Jim Hawk, who passed in 2018. Jim was also respected for his demeanor while playing and working in golf. He was known for being honest, caring and a wonderful family man. His ability to run heavy equipment boded well as he did years of free work for several golf courses in the area.
The players will tee off at 11:40 this Saturday. Under the local health department and golf course COVID-19 rules, the competitors will play their round, scores will be posted online and no other functions usually associated with tournament play will be permitted. Walking spectators only and social distance rules will be enforced.
