Van and Jeanne Smith did things their way — and Butler County area golfers were better off for it.

The couple originally opened Stoughton Acres — formerly a dairy farm — in 1964 and had the 18-hope golf course completed by 1973. The house was on the property, so the golf course was their home.

And they treated it that way. Their house, their rules.

Van died a few years ago. He came up with the general design and was superintendent of the course. Jeanne — who ran the clubouse —died a week ago.

They’ve left a lot of friends behind, largely because of the care and concern they showed for all of their patrons.

I was one of them.

When I golfed at Stoughton Acres, Jeanne was always there to greet us with a smile. I enjoyed walking the course and she loved that. Every time I’d ask for a pull cart, I chuckled at the price to rent one: 50 cents for 18 holes, 25 cents for nine.

That was by design. Everything Van and Jeanne did at the course was through their faith and belief in God.

Jeanne loved when golfers would walk the course. It was encouraged because it was good exercise. She always lamented the fact that so few golfers walk courses anymore.

One day, I walked 18 on a warm day and stopped in for a beverage in the clubhouse before leaving. No alcohol was sold or permitted on the premises at Stoughton. That was a family rule. No cursing within earshot of others was allowed, either.

Stoughton was their home and those were house rules — golfers adhered to them or they didn’t play there.

Anyway, I asked Jeanne for a Diet Pepsi. She saw how much I was perspiring and said she couldn’t do that, insisted on me drinking a bottle of water instead. I said I really wanted that Diet Pepsi.

Jeanne went on about how it was important to rehydrate and that it was important I drink water. She eventually said if I drank the water in front of her, she would give me the Diet Pepsi free of charge.

Again, we had no connection with each other. I was nothing more than a fellow human being to her. That was enough for her to care about me.

I drank the water.

Thanks, Jeanne. And rest in peace.

Unjust ending

Seneca Valley’s softball team finished the season 17-2, outscoring its opponents 109 to 14 for the year. Yet the Raiders did not qualify for the PIAA Tournament.

That’s because they’re in Class 6A, where there are so few WPIAL teams that only the district champion got to advance. That was Hempfield, based on its 2-1, eigfht-inning victory over SV in the WPIAL final.

The teams split their regular season meetings, SV losing, 3-2, and winning, 3-0.

Teams with much worse records and that finished lower in the playoffs are advancing. So what’s wrong with this picture?

The WPIAL does not need six divisions. If there were four divisions, Seneca Valley would likely still be playing.

It was bad enough Hempfield and SV had to wait more than two hours after their 4:45 p.m. scheduled start time to play that district title game. That scenario can be avoided as well.

Wait until the championship pairings are decided, then determine the game site and time. That’s what the WPIAL does for every other round of the playoffs.

There is no reason to schedule three games in a row at the same site. You’re asking for trouble.

And the WPIAL found it.

John Enrietto is sports editor of the Butler Eagle