My Grandpa is so cool
My Grandpa was featured in the Allentown newspaper because he volunteered as a marshal in the U.S. Women's Open (Golf) this past weekend.
Here is the article
And because I'm so proud of him, I also put the article text behind the cut.
90-Year-Old U.S. Women's Open Volunteer: 'I'm not doing bad for an old man'
Whitehall's Nick Bahnick volunteers at Open. He began playing golf seven decades ago
By Keith Groller | Of The Morning Call
July 13, 2009
Nick Bahnick may be 90 years old, but he hasn't lost his spunk.
"When Paula Creamer tees off, I'm moving up front," Bahnick said, cracking a smile.
The Whitehall Township resident was serving as a volunteer marshal Sunday morning on the first hole of the final round of the U.S. Women's Open and relishing every moment.
"This is wonderful, especially this weather," said Bahnick, who also worked the 1992 and 2000 U.S. Senior Opens at Saucon.
And what did he think of the women?
"Gorgeous," he said. [Haha. This made me laugh!] "They're also wonderful players. I've seen a lot of things and this ranks right up there."
Bahnick was working with his son, Dave, a Saucon Valley member.
"Dad will be 91 in December, and has been volunteering for things his entire life," Dave Bahnick said. "He just loves golf. He's played it his entire life and he was really looking forward to this."
"As long as I was healthy, I was going to be here," the senior Bahnick said. "I'm not doing bad for an old man."
Bahnick said he began playing golf in the 1930s as a teenager at Willow Brook in Catasauqua.
"It was 50 cents a round for nine holes back then," he said. "I never had a lesson in my life, but I've always loved it."
As his shift was about to end, Bahnick had yet to talk to any of the players. He doubted he'd have the same kind of conversation he had with Gary Player at the 2000 Senior Open.
"Player hit his second shot where I was standing, about three feet away from me," Bahnick remembered. "He said 'Sir, if I was you I'd back up.' But I told him that I wasn't worried. I said 'Gary, I'd be more worried if I was hitting.' That was one of my biggest thrills, that he talked to me."
Bahnick, a 1936 Northampton High graduate, has had plenty of memorable moments in his life, including two years in the Air Force in World War II. He said he flew six B-24 missions as a gunner
"No close calls," he said.
He made it home safely and settled into a wonderful life with his late wife Mary. They were married for 641/2 years before Mary died in September 2007.
"She didn't play golf, but she had an interest in it when other family members played," said Bahnick, who has four children, eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
The entire family is proud of Annie Bahnick, Nick's granddaughter, who is the No. 1 player at West Chester University and was one of the top players in the Lehigh Valley Conference and District 11 while at Emmaus.
The Bahnicks have a family reunion every year in which everybody plays golf. Nick played six holes last year and is hoping to tee it up again this year.
He wasn't content with just being at the U.S. Women's Open on Sunday.
"If I can find the schedule, I want to get out to a Legion baseball game," he said. "Matt Bahnick, my nephew, plays for North Parkland and they're in the playoffs."
Here is the article
And because I'm so proud of him, I also put the article text behind the cut.
90-Year-Old U.S. Women's Open Volunteer: 'I'm not doing bad for an old man'
Whitehall's Nick Bahnick volunteers at Open. He began playing golf seven decades ago
By Keith Groller | Of The Morning Call
July 13, 2009
Nick Bahnick may be 90 years old, but he hasn't lost his spunk.
"When Paula Creamer tees off, I'm moving up front," Bahnick said, cracking a smile.
The Whitehall Township resident was serving as a volunteer marshal Sunday morning on the first hole of the final round of the U.S. Women's Open and relishing every moment.
"This is wonderful, especially this weather," said Bahnick, who also worked the 1992 and 2000 U.S. Senior Opens at Saucon.
And what did he think of the women?
"Gorgeous," he said. [Haha. This made me laugh!] "They're also wonderful players. I've seen a lot of things and this ranks right up there."
Bahnick was working with his son, Dave, a Saucon Valley member.
"Dad will be 91 in December, and has been volunteering for things his entire life," Dave Bahnick said. "He just loves golf. He's played it his entire life and he was really looking forward to this."
"As long as I was healthy, I was going to be here," the senior Bahnick said. "I'm not doing bad for an old man."
Bahnick said he began playing golf in the 1930s as a teenager at Willow Brook in Catasauqua.
"It was 50 cents a round for nine holes back then," he said. "I never had a lesson in my life, but I've always loved it."
As his shift was about to end, Bahnick had yet to talk to any of the players. He doubted he'd have the same kind of conversation he had with Gary Player at the 2000 Senior Open.
"Player hit his second shot where I was standing, about three feet away from me," Bahnick remembered. "He said 'Sir, if I was you I'd back up.' But I told him that I wasn't worried. I said 'Gary, I'd be more worried if I was hitting.' That was one of my biggest thrills, that he talked to me."
Bahnick, a 1936 Northampton High graduate, has had plenty of memorable moments in his life, including two years in the Air Force in World War II. He said he flew six B-24 missions as a gunner
"No close calls," he said.
He made it home safely and settled into a wonderful life with his late wife Mary. They were married for 641/2 years before Mary died in September 2007.
"She didn't play golf, but she had an interest in it when other family members played," said Bahnick, who has four children, eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
The entire family is proud of Annie Bahnick, Nick's granddaughter, who is the No. 1 player at West Chester University and was one of the top players in the Lehigh Valley Conference and District 11 while at Emmaus.
The Bahnicks have a family reunion every year in which everybody plays golf. Nick played six holes last year and is hoping to tee it up again this year.
He wasn't content with just being at the U.S. Women's Open on Sunday.
"If I can find the schedule, I want to get out to a Legion baseball game," he said. "Matt Bahnick, my nephew, plays for North Parkland and they're in the playoffs."