From L to R: Kathy Klingman, Shirley and Richard Savage,
Penny Spaid, Barbara Salstrom, and Yvonne Rosenquist
Photograph by Aramco ExPats
The second day of the Saudi Aramco Annuitants Reunion was packed with fun. Golfers were out of bed early meeting in the hotel lobby at 7:00 a.m.. They were bussed to the Ledgestone Country Club for a "shotgun start" at 8:30 a.m. The tournament was scheduled to last until 2:00 p.m. For you golf enthusiasts, here are some entertaining facts about the Ledgestone Golf Course:
From L to R: Bonnie App, Lucy Templer,
and Peggy McGinley
Photograph by Aramco ExPats
"This is a true mountain course that has no adjoining fairways. There are some drastic elevation changes throughout its design, so expect many uneven lies. The Roark Creek flows through the last four holes of the front nine. One unique hole is #15, a 177-yard, par 3, featuring a 100-foot drop in elevation from the tee to a green that sits on a limestone ledge. Hole #17 is a 230-yard, par 3, requiring a tee shot over a four and a half-acre lake to a peninsula green. The architect nominated this course to "Golf Digest" as one of the "Best New Private Courses" for 1995. The club is part of a 3,700-acre development. The 5,006-yard ladies' tee also has a men's course rating of 66.9 and a slope of 121."
Meanwhile, back at the hotel, the Bridge Tournament began at 9:00 a.m. and would continue throughout the day until 3:00 p.m. Players participated in individual tournaments or a pairs party bridge game. Bridge has been described as the "ultimate in intellectual competition", a "sensational and entertaining card game" that "exercises the mind". It is no wonder that so many Aramco Annuitants enjoy a good game of Bridge.
For the less competitive, Line Dancing was coordinated at the hotel in preparation for the country-western music scheduled for the evening buffet. A line dance is a formation dance in which a group of people dance in a line formation or in parallel lines, and they all execute the same dance moves individually. It is not only a popular form of dance, but great exercise.
The Sideline Exhibits also continued at the hotel from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. which reunion guests visited during activity breaks, or at the conclusion of the day's events.
Members of the Fun Shirt Club included Byron,
Jackie Ohler, and Gene Quarterson
Photograph by Aramco ExPats
After a full day of fun social activities, and for some a considerable amount of exercise, happy hour began at 5:30 p.m. and continued until 7:00 p.m. at which time the Route 66 Buffet Dinner got under way. Dinner called for casual attire so guests could fully enjoy the spirit of the Country-Western, Route 66 theme.
The Route 66 Buffet was setup in stations to resemble various stops one might make on Route 66. For instance, Chicago, IL, featured assorted pizza with various toppings, St. Louis, MO, featured Italian toast ravioli and pasta station, Tulsa, OK and Amarillo, TX , featured a beef station, for a bit of humor, Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia, in other words, a “Detour”, featured chicken shwarma with pita bread and sauce, Santa Fe, NM, featured fajitas, Santa Monica, CA featured a brimming seafood selection including jumbo shrimp, crab clusters, and oysters on the half shell, Flagstaff, AZ featured a dessert station, and Barstow, CA featured the “Wet Your Whistle” station.
Following dinner there was dancing to country-western style music provided by Trent Crissup and The Roaring River Band. During band intermission, the Golf Tournament Awards were announced. Also, the Heritage Gallery raffled several books and two framed pieces of authentic Bedouin jewelry, and Aramco ExPats raffled an Aramco ExPats logo cap and silver necklace and cap and gold necklace combinations. Bob Berg was the winner of the gold necklace combo.
With the second day of the reunion really getting things kicked off, reunion guests were truly enjoying the chance to brush up on old friendships and connect with fellow annuitants.
Vicci Turner of Aramco ExPats Presents the Gold Aramco ExPats Necklace to Bob & Betty Berg - Photograph by Aramco ExPats
Duane Huetter Enjoys a Chat with Mr. Kramer - Photograph by Aramco ExPats