Dewsweepers Christmas Party

Aah, once again it was the annual Dewsweepers Christmas party.  The Dewsweepers, a group of men, who play every Saturday morning, no women allowed according to the bylaws.  Not that any woman would want to join them.  They are up early, no thank you.  Meeting for breakfast as soon as the club opens.  Now that would be nice, except we would have to be up early, again, no thank you.  Not that anyone is asking, mind you.  It isn't that I'm not up early, because I usually am, just not so presentable.  Scary would be a better way to describe it. 

 The Dewsweepers are the first on the course to sweep the dew, making way for those that follow.  This means our men folk return home early and we have the rest of the day to do something together, which you know they want to.

But lets go back to these bylaws for just a moment, that no woman or Bob Eby has ever seen, because apparently it proclaims in the bylaws that no woman is to ever see them!   The reason Bob has never seen them is he is yet to be voted in as an official Dewsweeper, although he is always present.  Once it was attempted to nominate Bob to become a Dewsweeper, but that nomination was tabled before that vote could be made.  I don't understand that either, I'm sure that also is explain in the damn manual.   I asked once where they keep a copy of these so called manuals, the response was "it states in the bylaws that no one, other than the members is to be told where they kept."   I was surprised the women were able join them for their Christmas party each year.  Hmmm, it apparently states in the bylaws women are to be invited to the annual Christmas party.  I wonder if its because the women bring the desserts?  Nah, they wouldn't do that, would they?

These men have been together for ages, with the loss of a few and a couple of new ones added.  The camaraderie among them is amazing.  Throughout the year money is collect, and at Christmas the Dewsweepers provide gifts and food for three families.  

These men are a granfalloons, a group who affect a shared identity or purpose, but whose association is actually meaningless.  Makes one want to join these men on Saturdays doesn't it?  No such luck, again it states in the manual that they can have only have a limited number of members.  Something to do with how many tee times they can get that early.

The dinner was provided by the Oak Ridge Country Club.  Chef Vincent Thomas did a fabulous job, the  filets were amazing, so full of flavor.   Every year the women are asked to bring desserts.  And each year we have way to many sweets.  Not that it's a bad thing.  It gives you options on what to get.  You can choose a dessert or get a sample of all.

Peak season for lemons begins in November and runs through March.  I decided for this years dessert I would provide Lemon Velvet Cake.

I love lemon anything.  Makes your mouth water just looking at it.

Lemon Velvet Cake

Cake Ingredients:

1 1/4 cups sifted all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cups sifted cake flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups sugar

2/3 cup vegetable oil

1/3 cup butter flavored crisco

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 teaspoon pure lemon extract

3 large eggs

1 1/2 cups buttermilk

zest of two small or 1 large lemon

Frosting Ingredients:

8 cups powdered sugar

2 cups unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 teaspoon pure lemon extract

1 teaspoon minced lemon zest (optional)

approximately 4 Tablespoons milk
raspberries (optional)
Cake Instructions:

1.  Coat 3 (7" round cake pans), or 3 (8" rounds) which is what I did or 2 (9" rounds) with baking spray, that has been lined  with circles of parchment paper on the bottom.  Sift together both flours, baking soda, baking powder, salt and sugar, set aside.

2.  In the bowl of and electric mixer beat together the vegetable oil, shortening, vanilla and lemon extract.  Beat well at high speed with whisk attachment until light and fluffy.

3.  Beat the eggs in one at a time.

4.  Fold in the lemon zest.

5.  Fold in the dry ingredients alternately with the buttermilk.

6.  Add dry ingredients in three divisions and liquid ingredients in 2 divisions.  It is very important to begin and end the additions with the dry ingredients.  Do not over mix the batter.  As soon as it has no lumps in the batter, divide batter into the prepared pans.

7.  Bake at 325' for 30 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Allow the cake to cool in the pans for 10 minutes before turning out onto wire racks to cool completely.  I usually bake my cake about a week ahead and freeze each layer separately.
Frosting Instructions:

10.  Mix together the powdered sugar, lemon zest and butter until it becomes sort of crumbly. 

11.  Add the lemon extract and a little bit of the milk.

12. Beat until smooth and fluffy, adding only enough milk to bring the frosting to a creamy spreadable consistency.

13. Fill and frost the cake.  Top with raspberries if you choose.

 Oak Ridge Country Club

 Jim giving the opening speech and prayer.

 The Dewsweeper Monument

 Keys declare's Jim Anderson the 2015 winner of the Clean Sweep Award.

 Jim was presenting Hughie with a special award.  Something to do with cheating and not posting scores.   I really don't understand all that.  It's probably however explained in the manual that we all know by now I'm not allowed to view.

Jerry Williams, PGA Directory Of Golf and General Manager at ORCC speaks of the members on his staff, and the loss of Bimbo, who will forever be remembered.