Seniors Enjoy a Full Course Day

The second of four West Orange Senior Citizen Golf Tournaments was held Monday at Essex County Country Club with the players thrilled to get a chance to play on the pristine and challenging course.

George Policastro's 85 was the low gross for the tournament, while Carol Torlucci won the low net with a 74 score. Julius Alston was the closest to the pin winner. All three are West Orange residents.

Emily Raftery, senior citizen's coordinator for West Orange, said that 72 golfers took part in the tournament.

"George had a very good score for such a challenging golf course and Carol's was great. She's a good golfer and her brother is a pro down the Shore, and was a guest of Carol's (Joseph Torlucci),'' said Raftery, who added that there'll be another senior golf event Aug. 2 at Rock Spring Golf Club and a fall tournament at Crestmont Country Club in October. "It was a great day.''

Joseph Torlucci hadn't been in town for 30 years, and was greeted warmly. "It was a nice reunion so to speak,'' Raftery said.

Donald O'Dea was in a foursome along with Policastro, Steve Schuckman and Harry Page. Policastro, who is a West Orange Rotarian, is a former member of the country club. He said it was a spectacular day. 

"It's a championship course,'' said O'Dea. "It's one of the toughest around and is a real challenge to the players. We were very lucky to have to play on such a exclusive course. The courses are being generous to play at a reasonable rate."

Golfers paid $85 to play on the course.

"It was a beautiful,'' he said. "You are playing and you see the sun setting."

Harry Page, a retired 59-year-old, was a guest of Schuckman and Policastro. He works part-time at Galloping Hill Golf Course in Kenilworth.

"It was very, very nice,'' said Page, who shot a 92. He added that he's been playing golf for nine years. "It was a terrific course, a challenging course,'' he said. "I lost a ball on a difficult hole that was a par four and wound up taking an eight.''