As most are aware, the summer season is all too short and both businesses
and non-profits scramble to make the most of just five big months. There
is at least one event going on almost every weekend that the season allows.
Events are fun-filled and most often have a dinner and/or an auction following
the golf game.
Jim Sarkis of Door County Charities Golf Classic takes a look at the requests
that come across his desk and decides which two local charities will benefit
from his annual outing. The lucky recipients then receive the donations
from his event for three full years. Jim has been putting on this event
for more than six years, five of which it has been held at Horseshoe Bay
Golf Club in Egg Harbor. Jim’s event is maxed out at 128 golfers
and 50 sponsors every year. Some local recipients include Peninsula Preschool
in Ephraim and the Sunshine House of Sturgeon Bay. Local celebrities such
as Green Bay Packers President Bob Harlan are among the attendees at this
invite-only event.
Orie Milton, Director of Sales and Marketing at Horseshoe Bay Golf Club
says that they put on four major events every season and that they would
“like to do more.” All of their events benefit local organizations,
including The United Way of Door County and Big Brothers/Big Sisters.
All of the events require that the course be closed for a large portion
of the day to accommodate the volume of players. There is a flat rate
given to the organizations who then decide what to charge the golfers.
Every year in September, Maxwelton Braes holds the Johnny G. Golf Scramble
to benefit the Johnny G. Scholarship Fund, a tax-exempt organization that
provides scholarships to children of single-parent families from Gibraltar
High School. With 144 golfers teeing off, every year the course is filled.
I happen to be on the board of this particular organization and helping
with this event every year since it started in 2002 has been a privilege.
We start with a small group of volunteers and somehow pull together a
great day of golf, food, music, and door prizes – in the end everyone
has a wonderful time.
There seems to be a sense of camaraderie that comes from so many people
joining together for a common cause. Not only do you get a great round
of golf and the chance to meet new people, but the organization also positively
benefits from the exposure.
There are several different venues for these events that range from the
laid back BBQ style of the Johnny G., to the more formal, sit-down event
of Door County Charities at Horseshoe Bay. Thanks to volunteers and local
businesses who donate tirelessly to these events, live and silent auctions
are a regular feature after the round of golf to allow participants to
bid for a wonderful massage or gift certificates to local restaurants.
Most outings are in the “scramble” format which means that
in teams of four, all four golfers play from the same place wherever the
“best ball” lands. This ensures that players move quickly
through the course as the average time for a round of 18 holes is about
four hours. Players show up, rain or shine, as we found a couple of years
ago at the “Johnny G” scramble when it poured the entire four
hours! Even soaked to the bone, the golfers managed to have fun and keep
a sense of humor.
With so many worthy causes in the area, there is a lot of competition
to keep people involved in local charities. Golf events are just one way
to bring people together to have fun, while giving them the opportunity
to do something great for their community. There are many ways to become
involved with the valuable non-profits in Door County, but gearing up
for a day on one of the beautiful courses in our area certainly seems
like the most fun.
Above photos were taken at the 2003 "Johnny G" scramble by
Cathy Hoke-Gonzales
