Tee up for charity at a fourth annual golf event Friday.
The Rotary Club Golf Tournament will be putting, driving and chipping to raise funds with a local focus.
Sally Wolfe, the club’s incoming president, was involved when the tournament was first conceived by a member, a golfer, in 2011.
“He thought this would be the perfect vehicle for our club to raise money for the charities we support,” she said. “And he was right.”
The project has raised between $5,000 and $7,000 each year since its start, and expects to accrue a similar amount with this season’s tournament.
Wolfe said the tournament is distinct from others in the area in what it allows the club to do in supporting local programs. The Rotary Club has been a longtime supporter of Dream Catchers, a center for therapeutic horseback riding, and this year’s event will also support a scholarship for a nursing student at Thomas Nelson Community College.
Any funds raised after those contributions will go to Polio Plus, the designated charity of Rotary International that seeks to eradicate the disease worldwide.
“We try and take care of our neighborhood first,” Wolfe said.
After three years of tournaments, she said organizers have gathered a feel for the number of teams and sponsorships to expect. They are anticipating about 18 teams — an ideal match for the holes on a course — but will also welcome players who wish to join on the day of the event.
One new aspect of this year’s tournament is a sponsorship through Dixon Golf, a company that focuses on environmentally friendly play and products. They manufacture “green” golf balls made with rock salt instead of heavy metals.
Wolfe was pleasantly surprised when they sought out the Rotary Club to become involved with the event.
“When they called I thought, ‘That’s kind of intriguing,’” she said. “I had never heard of green golf balls before.”
Registration begins at 11:30 a.m. Friday, with a shotgun start at 1p.m. at Kiskiack Golf Club. The entry fee is $100 per player, which includes greens fees, golf cart, buffet lunch and complimentary range balls.
For more information or to sign up a team, contact Wolfe at 812-2646.
