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WESTFIELD CENTER, Ohio - Cary Blair's golf cart serves as a movable "feast" for a man who is consumed with giving back to the game of golf.
On Saturday, the retired president and chief executive officer of The Westfield Group concluded his seventh consecutive year of riding his signature cart and greeting and cheering the country's premier junior boy and girl golfers who descended upon Westfield Group Country Club.
For seven years, Blair has been "Cary Claus" to junior golfers. The 68-year-old native of Hartford City, Ind., and Butler University graduate, spent 43 years in the insurance industry, 12 as CEO.
In 1999, Blair made connections with The PGA of America to offer Westfield as a title sponsor for the junior championship. The communication process actually was sparked by 1966 PGA Champion Al Geiberger, who happened to be at Westfield and mentioned to Blair that The PGA of America was seeking a new title sponsor.
As a result, Blair ignited the northern Ohio insurance firm to extend its brand beyond its borders by sponsoring a "major" junior golf championship conducted by The PGA of America. On July 18, 2001, Westfield Group Country Club opened its gates to the country's finest boy and girl golfers.
The 32nd edition of The PGA of America's premier junior championship concluded July 14, making its final appearance at Blair's home club. As Westfield's commitment comes to an end, there are emotional ties among Northern Ohio communities which have embraced Blair's dream project.
Together, they have witnessed how the Championship rose to enviable levels throughout the junior circuit.
"This is a bittersweet week for me," said Blair, recalling the journey by which he approached The PGA of America for title sponsorship. "The golf course is shining this week, and couldn't be better. As I look back upon some of our original goals, one being that I promised The PGA Board and Jim Awtrey (former PGA of America Chief Executive Officer) that I wanted to make this one of the best tournaments in the world for juniors.
"I wanted this to be the most pro-like experience they would have in junior golf. There were the amenities, and we worked to draw the largest crowds, and as I look back, the players and parents, they are the judge. I think we're there."
Blair's golf cart is as unique and multi-tasking as its driver.
His golf club head covers feature an assortment of animal characters that could be right out of a Saturday morning children's show.
In the back of the carriage he has a box of "Blair's Blasters" - plastic tubes filled with golf tees; two cups of Sharpies to aid junior golfers to mark their golf balls, kangaroo skin golf gloves, golf grips for any youngsters who may have missed a supply; and copies of a business motivational book that he co-authored, Return of the Body Snatchers.
He has run dry of a supply of Blair Bars and you have to look elsewhere for Blair Ware, or "The Blair Itch Project," nicknamed by PGA Professional and 1995 PGA Teacher of the Year Jack Lumpkin, which contained insect repellent to ensure the golfer a pleasant round at Westfield.
Blair's connection to the players in the Championship is legendary. He writes two letters a year to competitors in the championship, and receives more than 400 annually, with more than 200 during Christmas.
"I write to thank the kids for competing or invite them back, if they are eligible. But, I write to them about academics more than anything," said Blair. "I've spoke to many community groups about the value of junior golf and how we need their support of this championship.
"My theme is 'Come out and see America's new role models. ' These are kids we would hire in a minute, and we've begun to receive resumes from those who have played in earlier years in this Championship."
Blair said that he is continually energized by the quality of young men and women he has met in the Championship.
"I don't think in seven years, I've seen a tattoo," said Blair. "The only earrings I've seen are on girls' ears. Golf builds character sand ethics."
During the Championship, parents continually stopped Blair to thank him for the courtesy and hospitality.
"We also wanted to make this Championship a great experience for parents," said Blair. "They have sacrificed so much for their kids and they are to be commended."
Since his 2003 retirement from the helm of The Westfield Group, Blair became chairman of the Westfield Group Foundation, leading fundraising and overseeing the past four years of the Championship.
This Championship involved some 300 volunteers, paid farewell to the Westfield Junior PGA Championship.
In July 2003, The Westfield Group honored Blair by dedicating The Blair Center, a multi-purpose recreation and convention facility that rests behind the third green on the South Course.
There are other non-golf successes for Westfield as a result of hosting the Championship.
In 2002, Channel 5 - the ABC affiliate in Cleveland, met with Westfield to develop Academic Challenge sponsored by Westfield Insurance. Each week, high school team match wits in a "quiz bowl" format.
Westfield donated $27,000 in grants to the participating schools, with the winning school - determined after a playoff point system - earning $10,000, which would be channeled for the school's activities budget, academic programs or school equipment.
Blair's memories of the past seven years at the Championship flow through the list of players that he name without hesitation. But, one memory he cherishes occurred four years ago when in the middle of a round, one of the competitors came over and sat in a golf cart with Blair and Awtrey.
"It was Emma Cabrera-Bello," said Blair, of the eventual 2003 Westfield Girls' Champion from Maspalomas, Spain. "She sat down and thanked Jim for what The PGA of America is doing for junior golf. That was equally a touching and impressive moment for me and for Jim. Emma has gone on to now prepare for the LPGA Q-School in the fall."
The Westfield Junior PGA Championship has served as a model for some junior championships, particularly the Harder German Junior Masters, which celebrates its fifth edition in August.
"They sent their whole crew to visit us before they began their championship three years ago," said Blair. "Now, we have a strong relationship with them. The top three boys and girls in this Championship receive expense-pair trips to compete in their tournament in Germany."
As the Westfield Junior PGA Championship closes a remarkable seven-year chapter in Westfield Center, Ohio, the tradition and the legacy of Blair and his support staff continue.
"One thing I will always remember Cary telling me is that you can never time an opportunity," said Mark Farrell, Westfield Executive of Corporate Hospitality Operations. "He is a man who keeps us on his toes. He is someone who truly loves the kids and they have shown that love and respect back to him."
As the final groups made their path around the South Course during the final round of the Westfield Junior PGA Championship, Cary Blair was there to greet all finishers.
"I can see so many of these kids going on and doing so well in their careers, whether it is golf, business or whatever," he said. "I'm hoping to see and hear from them again."
