Tournament of Noses

In 1962, three foursomes put up $25 per man and drew two-man teams to play golf for the $300 pot. Little did they realize this idea would become the beginning of an annual tournament that would run for 33 years. As a first step toward building an identity, one of the group’s founders, John Mannes, dubbed the event “The Tournament of Noses,” helped create a logo and later had the name copyrighted. A committee was formed and, in 1965, the format of the golf tournament changed to a best ball of the foursome. As the years went by, a satellite tournament was added to the schedule, resulting in a four- or five-day outing for couples.

Over the years, the golfers played at the Woodmont Country Club (Rockville, MD); Turf Valley (Ellicott City, MD); the Tropicana, Sahara and Dunes Hotels (Las Vegas, NV); Sonesta Beach (Nassau, Bahamas); El Conquistador, Cerromar Beach and Dorado Beach (Puerto Rico); Golden Horseshoe (Williamsburg, VA); Palmetto Dunes (Hilton Head, SC); The Boulders (Carefree, AZ), and Las Colinas (Irving, TX).

Teams were drawn at a banquet event before the tournament. One of the highlights of the banquet was the special award given to a member by the committee running the event. By 1993, the tournament had grown to almost 100 dues-paying members.

Despite its great success, the tournament ended after the 1993 season. Unlike the early years when the tournament could be planned within months, resorts were starting to require a substantial commitment more than a year in advance, which was unworkable for many of our members. However, we still have many great memories to share. Moreover, debate still rages as to which year was “the greatest trip, ever”!

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Tournament of Noses (c.1962 - c.1995) Annual Four-Day Golf Party

In 1962, three foursomes put up $25 per man and drew two-man teams to play golf for the $300 pot. The event was so successful that the players decided to do it again the following year, setting up a committee to plan and lead it.

Allan S. Kullen Maryland (February 20, 1942 - ?) Author, Businessman, Golfer, Inventor, Jewish, Marketing, Mergers-Acquisitions, Poland, Printer, Social Entrepreneur, Traveler

“Her name is Ester Baumgartner. Do you know her? She's a pretty Swiss girl who sings beautifully, and I think she lives near here." Allan had posed the question in a broken mixture of Hebrew and English to whoever would listen and could understand him. Allan had met Ester while on an archaeological dig at Masada in the Negev, Israel. All he knew by the time they parted ways was her name and that she was staying in Tel Aviv.