One round, four generations at Tam O'Shanter

The foursome that gathered on the first tee at the Tam O'Shanter Club in Brookville recently set a standard that never can be surpassed. It might be tied, but don't bet on it happening very often. All four golfers were members of the same family and each was from a different generation.

Ed Sloyer, a Tam O'Shanter member, set it up. The 62-year-old played with his mom, Shirley (who wasn't crazy about having her age listed, Ed said); his son, Adam, 35; and grandson, A.J., five.

Sloyer got the idea during a previous round with Adam, who mentioned that A.J. had taken up the game. "I said, 'You know, Nanna plays golf. How many foursomes like that do you see?' I was thinking about it later, what other sport, what other activity can you do this with? It's one of the really special things about golf," he said.

Shirley played only the front nine, A.J. played a few holes on the back. It was enough for a memory that will last for generations. "It meant a lot to the two of them," Ed said.

Not just them, though. On the second hole, a par 3, Adam hit his tee shot a half-foot from the cup. "He said, 'If that rolled six inches more, this round wouldn't have been all about four generations playing together," said Ed, a proud son, father and grandfather.

Caddies are king

For one day, 120 caddies from all over Long Island were the golfers, and club officials, pros and members at Cherry Valley Club in Garden City were the workers. That's the upside-down protocol at "The Keith," the annual caddies tournament that benefits a scholarship in memory of Keith Cerrato, the college-age Cherry Valley caddie killed as he was crossing Hempstead Turnpike in 2006.

Ross Moore of Wheatley Hills won with a 68, ahead of Ken Ritchie Jr. of Garden City Country Club and Amit Sharma of Wheatley Hills, who each shot 74. Club pro Ed Kelly said caddies were high school and college students and others were full-timers. Mary Lou Cerrato, Keith's mom, said, "The day was a huge success. Word is getting out that this tournament is for real; unique and special in many ways."

Cherry Valley wasn't done being a generous host. Sunday, the club is holding its Patriot Day outing, honoring members of the U.S. military. Each foursome includes one military member, who will be treated like a celebrity.

Outings

Long Island Credit Union's 23rd Annual Golf Outing, benefiting the Long Island Breast Cancer Action Coalition, will be Sept. 8 at Bellport Country Club. Call (516) 867-4730 . . . The Rotary Club of Patchogue and the Fuoco family will host the 45th Annual Fuoco Memorial Golf 'Feastival' at Bellport Country Club on Sept. 18. The outing features many different food offerings throughout the course and benefits Camp Paquatuck, the health camp for special-needs children.

Fact of the week

Two golfers at a Pennsylvania course were taken to an emergency room recently after "they became embroiled in a heated debate over the rules of golf, specifically regarding water, on the fifth hole," according to a release issued by the Pennsylvania State Police.

The golfers, aged 42 and 63, finished that hole and played the sixth before the argument was "reignited" on No. 7, the police said. The second bout was "similarly involving rules, or lack of understanding of said rules."