SYRACUSE – It was goofy. It was untraditional. But the overall purpose was for a worthy cause.
Pink flamingos, car tires, tennis rackets and a baseball bat aren’t common items on a golf course, but all were standard operation at Wawasee Golf Club Saturday morning as Goofy Golf took shape. The first running of the event wasn’t just a reprieve for hack golfers, but a fun way to raise funds and further awareness of Cystic Fibrosis.
“This was a great success in our first year,” said event organizer Jace Stewart. “We just hoped to have a fun event for people to come out, and to continue to support Cystic Fibrosis awareness. This was just tons of fun.”
The modest event fielded only 11 teams – which was what WGC would allow due to cart availability – but brought home $836 to donate to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation – Indianapolis chapter. But rather than a standard Florida scramble, obstacles along the course made for an interesting navigation of the par-35 layout. For example, hole three had golfers tee off with a baseball bat, tossing the ball in the air like in the backyard and taking a swing with the lumber. Hole four had players hit a tennis ball from tee to green with a tennis racket. Then putt a golf ball in after the best tennis approach.
Hole five had golfers tee with both feet in a car tire. Hole six golfers had to hit tee shots and putts off one foot while flanked by pink flamingos. Hole one, golfers teed with a putter and continued on the entire par-three with putter in tow.
“I’ve put stuff like this together for birthday parties and bachelor parties before, so I’ve seen it work,” Stewart said. “We really felt like everyone enjoyed the weirdness. We raised over $800 and it didn’t feel like work at all. We just went out and had a good time.”
Stewart’s team had it figured out just the same, winning the scramble with a four-over 39, with two teams just off the pace at five over. Stewart was joined by Todd Lovellette, Cameron Beer and Tommy Locklin and shared the most challenging hole was the tennis hole.
Locklin has earned a name for himself in the CF community for his fundraising efforts, most notably his cross country run that ended in April where the Wawasee High School graduate logged 3,200 miles and raised over $20,000 in the process for CF. Locklin’s efforts were inspired by the fight of young Ethan Clem of New Paris, who is suffering from the disease. Laura Clem, Ethan’s mom, was on hand Saturday amongst the mayhem as were several members of her family and friends.
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