Colorado Avid Golfer Article - Trashmasters Charity Golf Tournament

“Golf has been wonderful to me,” saysWagner. “It got me in the pictures andI’ve been able to play all over the world.”And with all kinds of people. Throughouthis career, the man known to friendsas “R.J.” has teed off with an A-list rosterof golf and Hollywood greats, includingClint Eastwood, Dinah Shore, JackNicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Kevin Costner,Gary Player and Burt Lancaster.His most memorable pairing came in1960 on a TV show called CelebrityGolf, which pitted golf great Sam Sneadagainst Hollywood’s hottest actors in anine-hole charity match at Houston’sLakeside Country Club. Given threestrokes, Wagner beat Snead.“I had the choice to play him in themorning or afternoon,” says Wagner.“I knew he was up all night partyingand drinking gin and tonics so Ichose the morning. Afterwardshe wouldn’t shake my hand.He was pissed off.”Today Wagner lives nearlyfull-time in Aspen with hiswife, Jill St. John, a 40-year residentof the town, in a homethey’ve owned together since1998. And although, at the ageof 79, he no longer maintainshis Snead-beating golf prowess,Wagner carries “about a 14 or15 handicap,” which he deftlyapplies several times a monthat courses like Snowmass Cluband Roaring Fork Club in Colorado,as well as at Bel-Air and at TheQuarry in La Quinta.His favorite round of the year, however,is the Trashmasters Invitational. Heldthis year on July 30-31 at SnowmassClub, the tournament has become oneof Colorado’s highest-profile golf events,combining a host of celebrity guests, aone-of-a-kind format and, of course, avery worthy cause.Founded in 1993 by longtime Aspenresident Boone Schweitzer, Trashmastershas awarded $1 million in scholarshipsto 48 Roaring Fork Valley high-schoolgraduates, who have attended many Coloradouniversities along with schools likeMIT, Clemson, Pepperdine, Wheatonand Montana State.Now a successful real estate brokerand owner of Boone and Company RealEstate, Schweitzer grew up in a lowermiddleclassfamily in Wisconsin—the polaropposite environment of his ski- andgolf-filled life in Aspen. At at a young agehe realized education was his way out.“When I was a kid, if I didn’t havea scholarship I wouldn’t have gone toschool,” says Schweitzer. “It’s a causethat’s very near and dear to my heart.”The truly remarkable aspect of thetournament is its format. As opposedto the usualscramble andbest-balls ofmost charitygolf events,Trashmasters’ format awards points forthe less-than-perfect shots and odd occurrences(or trash) that happen in golf.“The whole idea for Trashmastersgrew out of boredom with the same oldformats,” says Schweitzer. “We startedcoming up with names for the eventsthat happen during a round.”And today there are 22 that havefound their way into Golf ’s Little Bookof Trash. There’s the Otis, named for theelevator company, for getting an up anddown. That’ll get you one point. Hit acart path and you’ll get a two-point Willie,in honor of Willie Nelson’s “On theRoad Again.” More exotic occurrencesget more points: a chip-in earns a threepointWatson, named for Tom Watson’sfamous chip-in in the 1982 U.S. Open;an ace, called an Arnie is worth 13points. Wagner’s favorite is the Barkie,which got its name after he struck a treeat Snowmass Club in the late 80s.Schweitzer, clad in a judge’s robe andpowdered wig, presides over the madness.“The appeal of the tournament isthat it’s so straight-forward and honest,”says Wagner, who has played in it fi vetimes. “It’s a whole new way of playinggolf. Everyone gets such a kick out of it.”Other celebrity participants—includingactor Michael Douglas, U.S. Open championScott Simpson, former Vice PresidentDan Quayle, actor Wayne Rogers,and Estee Lauder founder William Lauder—would tend to agree.“Trashmasters is a fabulous event andbenefits a very worthy charity,” says Oscar-winning actor Michael Douglas in anemail. “The tournament is a hoot.STAR POWER:Participantshave included1987 U.S. OpenChampion ScottSimpson; 1958PGA Championand TrashmastersAmbassadorExtraordinaireDow Finsterwald;Oscar winnerMichael Douglas.There’s nothing quite like it.”With the backing of stars like Wagner,Douglas and others, along with Schweitzer’scontagious energy and enthusiasm,Trashmasters will continue to grow.He hopes it will eventually become afranchised event played throughout theworld. And with Trashmasters tournamentsalready taking place in Arizona,Wisconsin, Cabo San Lucas and Scotland,Schweitzer’s vision is coming tofruition. Here’s to spreading the trash. AGJake Kubié is CAG’s assistant editor andWeb manager.July 30-31Trashmasters International Charity GolfTournamentSnowmass Club, Snowmass VillageAge: 17 th YearBeneficiary: Roaring Fork Valley ScholarshipFund$ Raised Last Year: $124,000 (net)Contact: Matt Tate, 970-927-TRASH;contact@trashmasters.com68 Colorado AvidGolfer | May 2009www.coloradoavidgolfer.com