Golf Tournament Fundraisers- With A Difference
The list grows longer of golf tournament fundraisers that have decided to give it a try this year. But they will not look the same as they did way back in 2019.
Courses are scrambling to find ways to keep these gatherings safe without , well, gathering. The good news is that once golfers are out on the course and playing they can easily distance from one another. The bad news is there are bottlenecks during the process when golfers tend to bunch up, like during registration, buying raffle tickets, waiting for tee assignments, lunch, awards and raffle drawings and dinner.
But golf courses are coming up with solutions to these challenges. At Undermountain Golf Course, for example, registration and payment will be done on-line in advance of tournament day, the raffle will be restricted to a 50/50 rather than a prolonged drawing and dinner is likely to be “to go”. Participants will be limited to 72 golfers for a two-flight tournament.
Over at Fair View Farm Golf Course in Harwinton, one of their upcoming tournaments will have an on line silent auction and raffle, dinner will be replaced by a gift certificate for a free round of golf and registration will be limited to 100 golfers.
At Undermountain, rather than waiting in a group for tee assignments, foursomes will be given their starting hole, and they will go straight to their tee – no hanging around the club house, and lunch will be a boxed meal at the turn.
Masks and distancing are always in order, but of course, all of these best-laid plans are subject to change.
Here is the latest batch of tournaments to weigh in:
Torrington Little League Golf Tournament, Aug. 14th, Fairview Farm Golf Course
Sheffield Fire Co. Golf Tournament, Aug. 14, Copake Country Club
Fore Autism Charity Golf Tournament, Aug. 21st, Fairview Farm
Fore The Children Golf Tournament, Aug. 31st, Torrington Country Club
High Watch Golf Tournament, Sept. 21st, Club at River Oaks
Hearts of the Fathers Golf Tournament, Oct. 8th, Copake C. C.
John Foley Lone Oak Challenge Golf Tournament Canceled for 2020
Co ARC Opportunitees Golf Tournament, Sep. 24, Copake C.C. FULL
BLN 20th Annual Golf Tournament, Sept. 14th, Torrington C.C.
Sharon Fire Co. Golf Tournament, Sept. 15th, Sharon Country Club
Torrington PAL Golf Tournament, Sept. 28th, Torrington C.C.
Again, everything these days is subject to change, so check http://sportingacause.com/ for updates.
Reason for Hope
Reason for Hope
So many cancellations, so many fundraising opportunities lost, so much uncertainty. But here in the sports-related fundraiser world there is now reason for optimism. Even as many events have canceled (and continue to) and the daily dose of Covid-19 news looks bleak, some charities are still hopeful that they can pull off their events.
Two weeks ago I offered an unhappy list of event cancellations. Today, here is a list of events that are either on the calendar or are hoping to be.
Ancrum Fire Co. Golf Tournament, August 9th at Undermountain Golf Course
Northwest CT United Way/Charlie Ormsby Golf Tournament, on hold
UNICO Golf Tournament, moved to Oct 5th at Torrington Country Club
James Ducillo Canaan Exchange Club Golf Tournament, possibly in late August
Amenia Fire Co. Golf Tournament, September 12th at Undermountain Golf Course
SWSA Golf Tournament and Pig Roast, September 19th at Undermountain Golf Course
Fore the Children Golf Tournament, August 31st at Torrington Country Club
Ice Bucket Challenge, tentatively in October
Sheffield Fire Co. Golf Tournament, September at Copake Country Club
Angevine Farm Half Marathon, postponed – new date to be determined
Jane Lloyd Fund Clam Bake, postponed – hope to hold an event in September
Salisbury Cricket Club Cricket Match, postponed, hope to hold event in September
Million Mile Alex’s Lemonade Stand Fundraiser, still on for month of September
Berkshire County ARC Golf Tournament, rescheduled for September 2nd at Berkshire Hills Country Club
Josh Billings Runaground Triathlon, still scheduled for September 13th with alterations
Many more events are, as yet, undecided . Needless to say, everything these days is subject to change, so check out sportingAcause.com for event updates.
Out of the Darkness
It will be the most comforting, nurturing stroll these folks take this year. Hundreds will traverse the Walkway Over the Hudson this fall during the Out of the Darkness Community Walk sponsored by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP).
You’ll see teams of walkers sporting T shirts with the names and faces of loved ones lost to suicide. They will wear a variety of colored beads, each signifying a particular form of loss- white beads mean the loss of a child; orange, the loss of a sibling; gold, the loss of a parent. If you struggle with your own thoughts of suicide, there are green beads there for you.
Thomas Sherwood and his wife Marie will be walking with Team Joe. Thomas will wear orange in honor of his brother Joey who died five years ago. They will be joined by Joey’s widow Joy- she’ll be wearing red.
The mood will be, at times, surprisingly upbeat, because they are a gathering of kindred spirits – they understand what each other is going through far better than the outside world can know. Their mantra is “You’re not alone”. That’s where the nurturing and comforting come in.
But there will be somber reflection too as people step to the microphone to tell of their loss ” I am wearing white today because I lost my twin boys, both of them” Their words yank at your heart. Maybe these expressions are cathartic for them- I hope so.
But this event is also a fundraiser. The teams seek donations to help support the important work that the AFSP does.
They teach grade schoolers about mental health, continue research into what causes people to attempt suicide, and educate the general population about what behaviors to look for and how to get help for someone who exhibits those warning signs.
The AFSP mission is to decrease suicides 20% by 2025.
Thomas is raising funds now. If you would like to support him please go here: https://afsp.donordrive.com/participant/Thomas-Sherwood
Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the US.
Nearly 50,000 Americans die each year from suicide.
To learn more about AFSP’s good work visit https://afsp.org/
To learn more about the Out of the Darkness Dutchess/Ulster County Community Walk on Sept. 27th visit: http://sportingacause.com/event/dutchess-ulster-…s-community-walk/
To learn more about the Out of the Darkness Berkshire County Community Walk on Oct. 3rd visit: http://sportingacause.com/event/out-of-the-darkn…re-county-walk-2/.
