In 2011 scores of area golfers had outstanding achievements. Here's www.golfbuckscounty.com quick lookback at the year's top stories.

 

When it comes to golf in Bucks County, 2011 was a year of firsts.

 

Oh, there were the annual assortment of winners, no doubt about it. But there were also some historic firsts that "lap" the list of firsts.

 

Winning a writing award is a difficult task. There are so many great writers out there with outstanding talent. These writers can make a story sing, bringing out the best in a topic. Driving the reader toward a smile, grimace or important information.

 

But every once in a while a blind cat finds a mouse.

 

At the recent PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, this reporter earned an Outstanding Achievement Award for Profile Writing in the International Network of Golf's Annual Media Awards. The award was for the story: Eskin, passionate about golf, a story about WIP Radio's Howard Eskin that appeared in www.golfbuckscounty.com last spring.

 

 

Glenn Smeraglio may not be the most prolific of area club champions, but he's one of them.

 

The Newtown resident, a 9-time men's champion at Yardley Country Club, moved his game across the rover to Mercer Oaks this year. It's no surprise he captured his first club championship on the east side of the river. Smeraglio claimed his first Yardley men's crown in 1987 and defended it in 1988. He added another in 1995, then began a run of six consecutive titles in 1999.

Is there any doubt that Duke Delcher is the finest amateur golfer to hit the national golf scene from Bucks County?

 

There have been scores of great local players, but Delcher heads the class.