Class of ’80 Sigs Iconic Golf Trip

Two years ago, Jim MacDonald, Mike Spooner, RL Berry and Bob Marks, all from the Class of ‘80, met in Florida to play golf at the Streamsong golf resort.  According to Jim they had such a good time, the group decided to try and make a trip more regularly.  So in early May 2026, Jim, Mike and Bob, along with Gregg Westerbeck ‘80, who stepped in for RL who was unable to attend this year, travelled to one of America’s most iconic golf resorts, Pinehurst, in Pinehurst, NC.

Pinehurst has hosted several US Opens. The statue depicts Payne Stewart when he won the US Open in 1999. Class of 1980 brothers (L-R) Jim MacDonald, Gregg Westerbeck, Bob Marks and Mike Spooner reenact their version of the fist pump, with slightly less vigor than Payne exhibited!

World Renowned Pinehurst Golf Resort

Jim remarked, “Pinehurst is one of the first golf resorts in the country and is a golfer’s paradise.  It was originally built with 4 courses by Donald Ross, a world-renowned golf architect.  There are 10 courses you can play, with #11 in the pipeline.  We played courses #2 (the most famous), #4, #8, and #10.  Three of the four were walking only so 20-25,000 steps a day was not unusual.”  Jim further noted, “that each course had very subtle characteristics, especially when you got on the greens, as they were very undulating and very difficult to putt.  If you ended up on the incorrect part of the green, balls would roll all the way off the green. All the caddies were exceptional, many with a story.  Our caddie “Darrell” was very helpful and fun, as we requested him for all four of our rounds.” The caddies were amazed when we shared that we were pledge brothers from the Sigma Chi house at Purdue!  One commented “that’s cool you guys still get together!”

As tough as the courses were all the games were competitive with Mike Spooner the medalist, but Gregg Westerbeck won all the money. The food at the resort was also exceptional, with almost any kind of food available.  Gregg brought some great tasting wine from California, but the scotch he had was also well received.

50 Years of Brotherhood

“We met a guy from Australia who was unfamiliar with fraternities and shared our experience as Sigma Chis. He thought it was cool that we still stay in touch,” commented Jim, who concluded, “We’ve known each other now for a head scratching 50 years, and we don’t see each other regularly, but when we gather, time has been suspended.  We pick right up where we left off and the needling and poking begin!  As I reflected in between my delayed flights to get home, I thought, I hope my kids have these kinds of relationships with their friends. The kind of brotherhood that we have is very special and enduring.  Can’t wait to do it again somewhere else next year!”

A selfie on the veranda of the Pinehurst Resort (L-R) Class of ’80 Sigs Gregg, Jim, Mike and Bob.