Not too early to plan for charity golf events
March 8, 2013
Spring is still a few weeks away, and the first few days of March are traditionally a dicey time of year to be out golfing.
Even so, tournament and charity organizers are well along in their plans for charity golf opportunities, in the Cape Region and beyond.
Mark Coty is the general manager of Baywood Greens, and he recently sent me a note about this year’s edition of the Iron Mike Destasio Hope Golf Classic. It will be held at the “exclusively public” Millsboro golf course March 29, beginning with a noontime shotgun start.
Mike, a well-known Lewes resident, moved to the Cape Region nearly a dozen years ago with his wife Wendy and their children, Allison and Mikey. Last season his son distinguished himself on the Cape Henlopen High School golf team, qualifying for the state championship tournament in the individual category.
In Feb. 2008 Mike began having trouble with his legs. After seeing Lewes neurologist Dr. Larry Kemp and undergoing tests, he was diagnosed with ALS, sometimes called “Lou Gehrig’s disease.”
Despite the challenges and ravages of this disease, Mike remains as active in sports and his community as he can be. Recently he earned a championship at the A level in the American Wheelchair Bowling Association National tournament in Massachusetts.
Before contracting ALS, Mike enjoyed many years of playing golf, first with his father, and then with his son. Now, with the Hope Golf Classic, he and his supporters seek to increase donations for the MDA/ALS Hope Foundation.
The entry fee for the event is $100 per player, or $400 per foursome. The fee includes an 18-hole scramble format tournament, followed by dinner, prizes, and a silent auction.
For more information and registration, contact Baywood Greens at 302-947-9800, or visit their pro shop, or click over to baywoodgreens.com. The website includes downloadable registration and sponsorship forms.
Another charitable organization found a way to tie their fundraising chances to the upcoming Masters Tournament, with a raffle for a “VIP experience for two.”
Golf to End Cancer is a program of the Marathon of Miracles, a 501c3 nonprofit seeking to eliminate cancer through wellness and cancer prevention education. NFL Pro Football Hall of Famer Chris Doleman, who runs the nonprofit Celebrity Charitable Network, is supporting the charity’s efforts.
The organizers stress that they have no official or implied affiliation with the Masters Tournament or Augusta National Golf Club. The raffle is being conducted online, and are being sold for $20 apiece, three for $50, and 10 for $150.
The grand prize includes accommodations for four days and three nights in a condominium or townhouse a short distance from Augusta National. In addition, the winners receive two Masters badges for the Thursday (April 11) and Friday (April 12) rounds. They also win three days of hospitality at Club Magnolia, just outside Augusta National, featuring dining, an open bar, a putting green, massages, and more, along with Masters gifts and transportation.
Those seeking to take a flutter can enter the raffle at augustatrip2endcancer.com, or at GolfToEndCancer.org. The total estimated value of the prize package is $8,500. The raffle ends April 2 at 1 p.m. Central Time.
Ed Woronicz is the Executive Director of Golf To End Cancer and a PGA member for over 30 years. In the press release announcing the raffle, Woronicz said, “We feel this is a terrific opportunity no only to raise funds for a worthy cause, but also to bring attention to the tremendous potential that golf has to spread the word about healthy lifestyle choices.”