Openings available for Labor Day Charity Golf Scramble
Golfers are still being sought for Butch & Jan’s 12th annual Labor Day Charity Golf Scramble, which will take place at Alden Pines Country Club.
Jan Green said 12 years ago she asked Butch (Waring) what he wanted to do on Labor Day, which he replied, “Let’s get a few people together and play golf.”
That first year attracted 24 players.
They decided to turn the get-together into a charity event the second year in conjunction with the Kiwanis Club. The event was called the Steve Dunlap Memorial Tournament, which raised $1,000 for a Kiwanis scholarship. Green said they also started donating $1,000 to the Pine Island Moose Lodge in his name for the scholarship as well.
She believes the golf scramble benefited the Kiwanis Club and Moose Lodge for five years before the organizations stopped awarding the scholarship.
Green said they decided to turn the tournament into a Pine Island charity scramble, with the winning team choosing which charity on the island would receive the proceeds. She said in years past the teams have decided to give money to F.I.S.H., Beacon of H.O.P.E. and an individual who was experiencing medical problems.
“Helped her through a tough time there,” Green said.
She said they have given away more than $15,000 to island charities.
The biggest scramble they have held since its inception included 123 players and the smallest occurred last year with 84 players.
“Come out and play,” Green said.
The event will be held Labor Day, Sept. 3, with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. at Alden Pines Country Club, 14261 Clubhouse Drive, in Bokeelia. Players are encouraged to have their team at the country club by 8 a.m. for check-in.
The registration fee is $30 per person. That fee includes $5 that goes towards the prize money, $5 that goes towards a Pine Island charity and the remaining $20 goes towards the fees of playing golf.
A team of four can play in the tournament. If an individual does not have a team, he/she will be paired up with others.
Players will be playing for first and second place. A drawing will be held for the third and fourth place winners.
“The winner usually gets around $1,000,” Green said.
The scramble, she said, will include eight special events, which includes longest drive, closest to the pin and closest to the line.
A 50/50, raffle drawings and door prizes will be included in the event.
The organizers of the event are also seeking gently used items for the door prizes. Those who wish to donate an item can call Green or Waring at 239-283-3669.