It’s that time of year, as announcements hit the newspapers and airways to promote our local NEPA golf tournaments. It seems like every charity has one, so what makes this particular fundraising venue so popular?
 Well, it is the reason for the tournament itself. Golf tournaments make money. A typical local charity golf outing can raise somewhere between $7,000-10,000, and the more popular, televised celebrity ones can raise millions. Many, whether corporate, nonprofit, or a private community organization, raise money to help fund their projects. These include research and training, education, scholarships, to financially assist families with medical expenses, and to support children’s services and youth programs.
Others may be held to help finance the purchase of new equipment and ongoing training for fire and police departments and to support youth sports leagues, outings and adaptive equipment for handicapped individuals, veteran and military support groups, and so on. Many are annual events, held in memoriam to honor a particular individual who committed his life in service to others.
The reasons may vary, but the heart of each fundraising event is to help meet the financial needs of a community and its people. Without such a resource, many organizations would fall short of the money needed to accomplish their missions and meet their ongoing fiscal responsibilities.
We are fortunate to live in a region that abounds in beautiful and challenging golf courses. Private clubs, such as Irem Temple Country Club, Wyoming Valley Country Club, Scranton Country Club, and Fox Hill Country Club, are the scenes for many charitable tournaments. They afford golfers and their guests amenities such as a club house with shower and changing facilities, banquet and lounge areas, and a first-rate atmosphere. Public courses offer affordable rates and most amenities that a private club has, but if a banquet facility is not available, food must be either catered or provided elsewhere.
No matter where the event is held, the club will select a date and organizers must accept what is available. Most popular tournaments are booked on a yearly basis and, as golfers become familiar with their favorite tournaments, they can plan accordingly.
Planning a Tournament
Getting a tournament off the ground is no easy task, especially for first-time event planners and novice committees. A plethora of information is available online to plan, promote, and execute a successful event. Taking advantage of the expertise of a knowledgeable club pro and banquet staff also help make the day run more smoothly.
For new tournaments, form a committee of five or six, with each person responsible for a specific task. Plan one year in advance to secure the date, find sponsors, send or provide online registrations, create and implement a publicity campaign, solicit vendors for prizes and auction items, maintain the database, prepare signage for hole and tee sponsors, secure insurance for contests, and contact a local business that may donate goods, thereby reducing the overall costs. Volunteers’ time and services should absorb administrative costs of a well-run tournament.
The day of the event begins early. Sponsors’ signs are posted on the course. Registration and sign-up areas are stocked with goodie bags, lunch items, and soft drinks, as well as ball caps, shirts, and other items to be given to the golfers. Next, the golfers hop in their carts and drive to their assigned hole for tee-off at the shotgun start. Volunteers man their carts to view and judge the hole contests for the closest to the pin, hole-in-one, and longest drive. Other volunteers prepare auction items for display, place programs on the tables, and take care of any last-minute details with the club staff. That’s a lot of work!
Golfers may be enticed by the thrill of coming in first or lowering their handicap, but these outings are also a social event. They bring people together to support a worthy cause, but also to interact with friends, business associates, and make new acquaintances. Once the last ball hits the cup and the scores are tallied, the golfers and their guests meet for a social hour that is usually followed by a dinner. Many tournaments also conduct a live or silent auction, with items that have been donated by various retail businesses.
Memoriam and Legacy
Over the years, this writer has had the privilege of sitting on several committees that organized and ran successful golf tournaments. When my son was in high school, the soccer parents held two to fund the team’s trip to soccer matches in Canada. Proceeds helped pay for travel, meals, lodging, uniforms, and fee expenses.
On a more personal note, I have served for the past six years helping to support and promote the First Lieutenant Michael J. Cleary Memorial Golf Tournament. For those not familiar with Cleary’s legacy, his assignment while serving his tour of duty in Iraq (2004-2005) was that of a combat engineer and platoon leader. He was killed in action on December 20, 2005 by an IED. Shortly after the untimely death of this fine young man, his family and friends decided to establish a memorial fund in honor of his service, not only to his country, but to his community.
Cleary was a big believer in giving back, so it only seemed appropriate to carry on in his tradition of service to others. The purpose of the Michael J. Cleary Memorial Fund is to continue his devotion to caring for those who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom. The fund helps those and their families who have been wounded or paid the ultimate price to preserve our liberty.
The tournament proceeds have helped provide financial assistance to many worthy organizations and individuals in our community and abroad. The following is a brief list of what Cleary’s memorial fund has made possible: the incorporation of the NEPA Veterans Multicare Center; contributed funds to Hunts for Healing, Inc.- sponsorship of outdoor hunting, fishing, and camping opportunities for returning wounded military; paid insurance premiums for the Association of Retarded Citizens to continue to offer monthly dances for developmentally challenged adults in NEPA; contributed to the Veteran’s Count Easter Seals program for children of veterans; and, purchased two Core in-line machines for the US Navy Hospital Rehab Center in San Diego, which helps amputees adapt to their new prosthesis.
Whatever the primary purpose of the charity golf tournament, be assured that these projects are a labor of love– love of a community and its people, a passion to be of service, and the opportunity to make a difference.
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