This week marks the ninth anniversary of the attacks on New York City’s twin towers, the Pentagon, and the crash of Flight 93.

It’s not an anniversary that calls for celebration, but a bit of calm reflection instead.

In July 2001, I was on the World Trade Center One’s 63^rd floor, at a meeting of agency attorneys and others who worked for a wide assortment of highway turnpike operators. As we usually did at such meetings, we stayed in the conference room through lunch, but took a break from talking about EZ-Pass and other issues. Given our off-work interests, the conversation naturally turned to golf, the favorite sport of many of us.

Here’s some of what I wrote about that meeting nine years ago:

[I]t was a typical lunch among business friends and associates, sharing their mutual love for the game.

I kept the special security photo I.D. card given to me that morning for permission to reach the 63^rd floor. It is an unsettling souvenir of a place that doesn’t exist any more.

As soon as I heard of the attacks on the World Trade Center, my thoughts went out immediately to … my … friends at the Port Authority. There was no way I could reach them to find out how or if they made it out safely.

Then I thought of all the thousands of other Americans, with similar thoughts about the thousands of people they know who work or live in the Trade Center, along with the hundreds of victims caught in the hijacked airliners or buried under the Pentagon’s rubble.

The ‘six degrees of separation’ that truly connect so many Americans together may not be fully appreciated by those not of this country. Whether the ties that bind us come from work, or family, or golf, these connections are among the reasons we will come together fairly quickly as a people to react in strong, measured ways to this newest outrage.

Looking back on what happened after that fateful day, I think my modest prediction was borne out. I still have that card, too.

The greens at Shawnee Country Club continue to be receptive for a well-struck golf ball.

Jack Mcduff of Milford fired a pitching wedge at the short par-3 thirteenth hole Aug. 24, and made his first hole in one at the course.

Cape Region resident John Chadderdon, known by many folks for his volunteer services for Epworth United Methodist Church, was apparently rewarded from on high. During the traditional mixed Labor Day tournament at Shawnee, he made his second hole-in-one ever, on the par-3 sixteenth hole. "I used my seven-iron, and it was about 150 yards out. The ball hit on the green once, took one big bounce, and just dove right into the hole," Chadderdon said.

At the recent Tuesday night league season-ending dinner at Shawnee CC, the master of ceremonies, Garner Shugart, announced a new prize.

The winners were to be nominated from those players most often noticed as being the last ones in the clubhouse after the matches.

The crowd reacted extremely favorably, and the voting was over in no time.

Some might suggest that this award was a way to tease folks about slow play, but I disagree.

The fact that my partner John Eustis and I won this new award may have something to do with my assessment.

I prefer to keep in mind that we always walk the course during our rounds, and in the summer heat neither of us care to rush back from remote locations such as the sixth hole or thirteenth green.

In any event, I think we’ll both enjoy using our new combination clock/emergency flashlights. They may come in handy.

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