CALLICOON – On May 28, Sullivan County Democrat Publisher Fred Stabbert III took nearly 200 Sullivan County Democrat Golf Tournament applications to the Callicoon Post Office to be mailed.

On Friday, May 30 the application ad ran on page 8B of the newspaper.

And by 9 a.m. that same morning, players were driving to Callicoon, applications in hand, to enter the 44-year-old tournament.

“I really never expected this,” Stabbert, who has been involved with the golf tournament since its inception in 1982, said.

“I had players calling the office and driving to Callicoon – three or four times a day,” he said. 

Harris Seletsky and his partner, David Luczyski, were team No. 1.

“I guess they really didn’t want to miss out on the tournament,” Stabbert laughed.

As the number of applications started to build up during the first week of June, Stabbert thought it would be a good idea to start organizing the entries.

“Last Friday, I started writing down the teams who entered – and we were filled,” he said. “It literally took six days to fill up – this has to be a new record.”

The Sullivan County Democrat Two-Man Better Ball Golf Tourney is regarded by many golfers as the best Amateur Golfing event in the Hudson Valley.

It features 64 two-man teams – 128 players – who compete for three days to crown the best players in seven different flights.

This year’s  tournament will be held on August 8, 9 and 10 at the Villa Roma Country Club in Callicoon, who have hosted the tournament for the past three decades.

“We already have built a reputation for cameraderie, competitive golf and sportsmanship,” Stabbert said. “And I have to recognize Villa Roma Golf Pro Matthew Kleiner, tournament director, who continues to keep the tournament organized, on track and playing by the rules.”

Started by Fred Stabbert Jr. and Paul Zintel in 1982 at the Grossinger’s Big G golf course in Liberty, the tournament really hasn’t changed much over the years.

“It’s you against the course and you and your partner against another team,” Stabbert III said. “Leave your handicaps at home, just bring your clubs.”

That is a formula that many players have embraced and enjoyed through the years.

The Democrat’s “Iron Horse,” Marvin Newberg, will be returning this year, playing in his 43rd Democrat out of 44 years.

“Marvin was there in the beginning and never missed, except for last year,” Stabbert said. “He is the epitome of the faithful Democrat Golf Tourney player.”

In fact, when Newberg sent in this year’s application, he penned a short note to Stabbert, “You thought you could get rid of me but like a bad penny, I always show up.”

Newberg remembers a lot of the history of the Democrat, including the first two tournaments, when Mark and Mitchell Etess claimed victory on their “home course” at Grossingers.

Mitchell is also expected back this year, playing with nine-time winner Ken Cohen.

All four players – Mark and Mitchell Etess, Newberg and Cohen – are also members of the Sullivan County Democrat Golf Tourney Hall of Fame.

The Hall of Fame tradition started in 2021 when seven players were inducted:

• Tournament founder Fred Stabbert Jr.

• First Tournament Director Paul Zintel

• Long-time host and Villa Roma owner Marty Passante,

• Two-time Champions Mark and Mitchell Etess

• Winningiest Democrat player ever Ken Cohen, and

• Newberg, who had the longest streak of appearances in Democrat history.

In 2022, the following players were induced:

• Charles Johnston

• Jack Jordan, and 

• Chris DuBois

In 2023, the following were inducted into the Democrat Hall of Fame:

• Bill Phillips

• Matt Kleiner

• Gregg Semenetz Sr.

“It is so great that this tournament continues to attract both veterans and new players each year,” Stabbert said.

There will be more than a dozen past champions in this year’s field and plenty more competition from players who want to be crowned “Democrat Champion.”

“I enjoy playing in the Democrat myself,” Stabbert said. “Especially since I get to spend three days with my son, Andrew.

“It’s a special memory I will always treasure and I’m sure it is the same way for so many teams out there – enjoying time together with friends and family on the course,” he said. “It really doesn’t get any better than that.”