What a difference a year can make.
With sunny skies and temperatures hovering in the mid 20s, it couldn’t have been better weather for the seventh annual Jasper Victims Services Charity Golf Tournament, Sept. 11, especially when you consider last year’s tournament had golfers bundled up in toques and mitts.
A hundred and fifty-six golfers teed off at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge Golf Course to support the non-profit organization’s largest fundraiser of the year.
The organization raised about $25,000, said Paul Schmidt, the victims services coordinator.
“It’s a great fundraiser for us,” said Schmidt, adding tickets were sold out by July 1, nearly two months before the event.
The money raised through ticket sales and a silent auction goes toward helping people in distress who may need a place to stay for the night, a warm meal or transportation. It also helps pay for training and support for the organization’s volunteers.
“Those are the things people don’t really think about when they’ve been in a tragic accident,” said Schmidt, adding none of the money goes toward his salary, which is covered by the province’s solicitor general.
On average, the organization spends between $10,000 and $15,000 a year helping victims of crime or trauma, explained Schmidt.
To keep the tournament light-hearted, teams of four follow the Texas scramble format, otherwise know as best ball.
To add to the fun, organizers introduced several unique challenges along the way, including a chipping contest at hole three and TD Bank’s “draw for your drive” at hole number six, where players were asked to pick a card from a deck and then tee off with the club that corresponds with the card. The jokers were short drivers making for an exceptionally difficult, yet fun challenge.
On hole four, ATB Financial offered a $10,000 prize for anyone who scored a hole in one. Unfortunately that prize went unclaimed.
In addition to the tournament, there were several other fun ways to enjoy the day, including a ball drop from the top of a ladder truck and mulligans for sale for those players who needed a second chance to clear the water on Hole 14.
Tickets for the golf tournament cost $170 for non-members and $100 for members.
After the golf tournament, more than 200 people sat down for dinner and a silent auction, which raised about $1,500.
Tickets for the dinner cost $50 and included several door prizes, such as a Via Rail trip worth $500.
The tournament was so popular that organizers had to turn down six teams this year, but those teams will be put on a waiting list for next year’s tournament.
Paul Clarke [email protected]
