"Ilion man, 98, golfs three, four times a week"

By Stephanie Sorrell-White

Posted Aug. 20, 2012 @ 12:01 am
Updated Aug 20, 2012 at 8:16 PM

Ilion, N.Y.

Carl Bleau, of Ilion, celebrated his 98th birthday Thursday the way he does almost every day during the summer — with his golfing buddies at Doty’s Public Golf Course.

Bleau is part of the group that calls themselves "The Old Buzzards," gentlemen in their 70s, 80s and 90s who get together pretty much every day during the week to hit a few golf balls on the links.

"I like the company," said Bleau. "I go about three or four times a week."

One of the group’s members said Bleau shoots a 40 on the golf course, which is a good score.

"I use to play up at Cedar Lake [Golf Course in Frankfort] for years. I used to have a summer home there," said Bleau. According to www.golflink.com, Doty’s is a "9-hole course [that] features 2,820 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 35. The course rating is 33.2 and it has a slope rating of 104. Designed by Chet Winsborough, the Doty's golf course opened in 1931."

Bleau said he could not quite remember when he first played at Doty’s, but his son Peter Bleau — also a member of The Old Buzzards — said he believes it was in the late 1930s or early 1940s.

The Old Buzzards have played together for about 15 years. Carl Bleau is the oldest member of the group, who had a chocolate frosting birthday cake ready for him when he finished up his round on Thursday with his buddies gathering to sing a round of "Happy Birthday."

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