In 2020 we chose Cream Ridge Golf Course as the meeting spot for the annual Turkey Bowl during COVID because of its convenient access from New York and Philadelphia. In 2021 we attempted a reboot of the event, but the weather did not cooperate. As the date approached, participants began dropping out and forecasts predicted near-freezing temperatures with wind gusts up to 35–40 mph. Even regulars like myself and Chris Ottaunick (known as Yammi and our staff photographer) hesitated. When I turned in on Thanksgiving evening, I assumed we would cancel.
The next morning brought a flurry of messages debating whether to play and whether rain would arrive, but a small group decided to go ahead. Once again we had father-and-son pairs from the Advisory Board: Chris and John Ottaunick; Carlos and Chris Cappuccio; and Steve Montgomery, last year’s champion, who brought his sons Matt and Mike for the day’s festivities.
We ended up with two foursomes: the Ottaunicks joined the Cappuccios, and I teamed with the Montgomerys.
HOLE 1
520 yards, par 5
The Cappuccios and Ottaunicks teed off before us into a strong wind. The Montgomerys and I followed: the boys pushed drives left, I hit right, and Steve smartly aimed down the middle. He followed with a perfect 3-wood that reached striking distance of the green and two-putted for bogey. The rest of us, cold and tentative, carded double bogeys. Conversation revolved around last year’s antics, especially what happened on Hole 2.
PHOTO: © FRANCIS X. GALLAGHER
HOLE 2
138 yards, par 3
I made Turkey Bowl history in 2020 with the first hole-in-one. 2021 did not repeat that magic. Matt and Mike Montgomery teed off first and both overshot the green—one to the right, one behind. Steve landed left of the pin but was pin-high and in a good position. Trying to recreate 2020, I hit a high shot that came up just short of the green. (In 2020 the ball hit the front collar and rolled slowly into the cup.) We chipped on, Matt overshooting and rolling off; the best score on the hole this year was a 4. For the record, the club has since added a plaque commemorating the 2020 ace.
HOLE 5
343 yards, par 4
From the elevated tee you can clearly see this dogleg right with a pond below that usually isn’t in play. Steve’s drive carried long but settled slightly left and under some branches—a familiar hiding spot. His ball rolled into a pile of leaves and was lost. My drive was modest but in the fairway. My approach overran the green, rolled off the back, and required a long chip back. Matt and Mike found trouble near a lone pine; we never quite recorded their final score.
HOLE 14
362 yards, par 4
By the time we reached the ninth hole—where I managed a birdie—the Montgomerys had had enough of the wind, cold, and looming rain and headed home for hot cocoa. I stayed on with the Cappuccios and Ottaunicks, forming an unofficial five-some. Yammi crushed a drive that landed about 40 yards from the green; I remember him being nearly on the green the prior year. The course crew had trimmed trees left of the fairway, opening the hole and making tee shots easier. John put everything into his swing but struck a tree; we allowed a redo.
The Cappuccios, more practiced at fishing than golf that day, sent their balls into the woods. A recurring theme on this hole is a magnetic pull toward the left side, where branches clip shots and send them out of bounds. I struggled off the tee but managed to recover with a double bogey. The hole should be manageable with a left-center drive and a mid-iron approach. Yammi turned in a birdie—was he already eyeing the trophy?
HOLE 18
488 yards, par 5
The finishing hole is a great challenge but needs some attention from maintenance. We had to park our carts about 60 yards short of the tee and pick our way through mud to reach the markers. The raised tee sits over a pond and tempts players to aim too far right; I warned the group but everyone except Yammi went too far left. I hit a strong drive that carried and rested on the right side of the fairway.
My second shot sailed over the right trees and landed in the fairway about 100 yards from the green. Yammi matched me and finished a few feet away. Both of us reached the green in three and two-putted for par. The rest of the group limped home, losing balls and shots to a stubborn course. We wrapped up the 27th annual Turkey Bowl without needing a recount of ballots: Chris “Yammi” Ottaunick was the clear winner for 2021.