After 38 years as Director of Grounds at Tedesco Country Club – and retirement at year’s end – who knew there could be one more surprise heading Peter Hasak’s way?
It was just a regular Friday night in May, after all.
“We have an opening tournament every year and they have a men’s night at the 19th Hole,” Hasak said. “I hadn’t been to one of these men’s nights in 38 years . . . Yeah, we’ll go up and have a good time for an hour and say hello.”
Later that night, just before a blind match drawing, came a presentation that renamed the President’s Cup, a season-long tournament. It is now called the Hasak Cup.
“I couldn’t believe it,” Hasak said. “I had no clue it was coming.”
Head PGA Golf Professional Ryan Train made the announcement. From there, came thunderous applause and an emotional Hasak.
“Peter’s fingerprints are all over our course,” said Train, who’s in his sixth year with the club and was recently named Merchandiser of the Year by the Massachusetts Chapter of the New England PGA. “It’s a level of dedication that should never be forgotten and etched in stone.”
Across Hasak’s tenure, Train credited him for overseeing bunker renovations, the addition of Tedesco’s driving range, the rebuilds of five greens (No. 9, 11, 12, 17, and, most recently, 15), the practice green, and the first and third tees.
And then some . . .
The idea of a Hasak Cup came a year earlier, but because Hasak hadn’t announced his retirement, the renaming remained a secret.
“They called it the President’s Cup – knowing all along it would be the Hasak Cup once I announced retirement,” he said. “And they all managed to keep it a secret for a year.”
Hasak said the decision went through the golf pro, committee, board of governors, and General Manager Michael McGillicuddy.
He admits to getting emotional every time he thinks about the honor.
“What I keep thinking of is that it’s such an affirmation of the time spent here – the show of appreciation and gratitude from membership,” he said. “All three of my kids (Spenser, Sam, Morgana) grew up here . . . The club’s been great to me.”
Cy Kilgore, longtime club member, was Hasak’s chairman in the ’90s and has watched the club turn into “one of the best-conditioned golf courses in the state.
“We worked together quite a bit. He’s just a classy person and great to work with,” Kilgore said. “It’s great the club has done that – I’m sure he’s honored.”
The Hasak Cup is a two-man-team tournament. Matches are played within the confines of each month of the season.
“By the time we get to August or September, if you keep winning, you keep playing. Once you lose, you’re eliminated. It’s a very friendly event in which best friends team up together and play,” Hasak said. “I can’t wait until the end of the season, when someone wins and gets their name put on the trophy that has my family name on it.”
And just because he’s retiring, doesn’t mean members won’t see Hasak around.
When asked if he’ll spend time at the club post-retirement, the Man of the Hour was quick to respond.
“I hope so,” he said. “I’m sure I’ll be here plenty.”
