2nd Scot Tour Get Together (Exmoor)

The 2022 Scot Tourists had the opportunity to get together one more time before heading off across the pond from Friday, November 18 - Sunday, November 20. 2022.

We were hosted by Tourist Jeff Wright at the beautiful Exmoor Country Club.  Jeff likely arranged this so he didn't have to rent a truck again to deliver our luggage and the other final clothing items.

Exmoor completed renovations 5 or 6 years ago that really enhanced their curling warm room by adding a state-of-the art bar area and restaurant known as The Oak House that caters to the curling, paddleball and pickleball crowds.

This final get together was an opportunity for the tourists to do a trial-run on our uniforms, play together once more with their Scot Tour teams, practice our entertainment and build greater camaraderie.

All but one tourist was able to attend, including Doug Brugler who had been added to the tour just before our last get together when Joel Leneker had to step down from the tour for personal reasons after the 1-year delay caused by the COVID pandemic.  Joel, we will miss you on the Tour!

A couple of weeks before this get together, the Tourists learned of the tragic, sudden passing of Tourist Charlie Brown after an evening of curling at his beloved Schenectady Curling Club.  The Tourists raised a glass in his honor at the Saturday night dinner and pledged to keep Charlie in our thoughts while in Scotland.  Charlie, you will be greatly missed!

Recently named to replace Charlie was Michael Shalhoub of the Ardsley Curling Club but Michael was not able to attend the get together on such short notice.  The Tourists look forward to meeting Michael in Scotland and running him through the traditional Tourist initiation ritual.  Welcome Michael!

First off, our SWAG:

Keith Schreiber delivered to each Tourist a bag that contained:

  • 35 lbs (nearly) of tour pins to be given by Tourists to their opponents on the Tour
  • 2 name tags that have the Tour Pin on them, the Tourists name and the Tourists home city and state
  • Pin cards on which the Tourists can attach the Tour Pin, USA Curling Pin and their local club pin.  The cards contain a thank you and the location of the Tourists home club on a map of the United States
  • A 2022 Scot Tour Patch
  • A nametag to place on the Tour broom
Jeff Wright delivered to the Tourists the following items:
  • The Tour broom - A Hardline American Flag broom with an additional flag and USA on it
  • Scot Tour tie
  • Scot Tour belt (actually an engraved 2022 Scot Tour belt buckle and 3 different colored belts)
  • A Columbia suitcase
Steve Shaffer shared the graphics he had put together that outline our itinerary in Scotland:

Friday night the 5 teams played an 8-end game against one another.  Throughout the weekend, the Exmoor Curling Club was kind enough to have some local curlers available so that all 5 teams could play in each draw.

The game was followed by a delicious dinner and cocktails in the warm room with food and drink from The Oak House.  Following dinner, the Tourists proceeded to a meeting room at the Clubhouse for a practice session of the songs and stories that will be performed at each stop on the tour.  Doug Potter (clarinet) and Greg Eisenhauer (guitar) led the singing and a variety of humorous stories were told.  We also learned that Peter Lyons was the 1957 women's golf co-champion at the Nashua Country Club (his mother won the championship when she was pregnant with Peter).  A group then convened at the hotel with a few bottles of scotch.

On Saturday morning, we started off with our obligatory Scot Tour Team Picture:



On Saturday, the teams played 3 6-end games on at 10:00 am, 1:30 pm and 4:13 pm with lunch at The Oak House between games 1 and 2.

After the last game, the Tourists put on their formal attire and went over to the Exmoor Clubhouse again for an excellent dinner in the Wine Room.  The Tourists uniformly though the meal was superb and some Tourists found the love of Elmer's Gold Brick Topping.  This was once again followed by entertainment practice and then some more scotch back at the hotel.

Sunday brought one final 6-end game.  Following the game, the Tourists said their goodbyes and headed home to meet once again in Edinburgh!

A number of former Tourists were on hand to provide their memories of the Tour and answer questions that any current Tourists had.  Thanks to Russ Brown, Andy Anderson and the others that made it out.

Thanks to Jeff Wright for all of his work on the attire and for hosting us all weekend at his club!

Good Curling to all!  See you in Scotland in 45 days! 

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