Charity Classic in Troy beats last year’s fundraising totals

TROY — Community members played a team-based round of golf while supporting a good cause at the Rotary Club of Troy’s second annual Charity Golf Classic Scramble June 7 Sylvan Glen Golf Course.

In a golf scramble event, teams play through the course, but their scores are counted together rather than separately. This means each team member hits the ball from the same spot. Depending on where the best shot landed, the teammates then shoot their next shot from that spot, and continue with that throughout the game.

“This is common for fundraisers,” Troy Rotary President Elect Jay Greenwood said. “We have a mix of people who play golf and people who are new to the sport. The beauty of this is you don’t have to be a golfer to have a good time.”

Those interested in participating in the game could pay $125 per person or $400 for a team of four. The funds raised are intended to go toward local organizations and charities.

“We are excited to share that we exceeded last year’s golfer total by 20, with 92 golfers and 23 teams this year for the second annual Charity Classic,” Ben Clevenger, a Rotary Club corporate member, a scramble participant and one of the organizers of the event, said. “Additionally, we raised $5,000 more than last year for a total of $15,000 at this 2024 outing.”

Many of the scramble participants competed with family members, friends and colleagues from their workplaces.

Tim Laquinta is a recreational golfer who competed with his colleagues from Cascade Partners. Laquinta played in the scramble during the previous year and was invited back, as he has family members involved with the Rotary Club.

“I came back to have fun,” Laquinta said. “It’s been great so far, with the weather being the only difference. I like being able to show up and golf, and this is a well-organized event.”

Another participant was Karen Lawson, who is a retiree from the Troy Fire Department’s Station 6.

“This is a fun and well-organized event,” Lawson said. “My friend Eileen, who’s also been my bowling partner, and I heard they needed golfers. We have been to three holes so far and are doing good.”

The Classic Golf Scramble also had multiple prize opportunities for attendees, who could win cash and gift cards that were donated by Troy businesses, among other winning opportunities.

“We have great hole-in-one prizes, including a trip to Pebble Beach,” Troy Rotary President Roma Murthy said in an email. The event offered a pro on one of the holes where golfers could play against the pro. He called it “a fun event allowing everyone the opportunity to network and enjoy fellowship.”

For more information, visit portal.clubrunner.ca/1475.