By Darren Lum
Water Ambassadors Canada’s eighth annual Charity Golf Classic raised more than $32000 thanks to the support of the community.
With 84 golfers 17 volunteers the staff of the Pinestone and a collection of businesses that sponsored three hole-in-one holes and several challenge games the fundraiser on Thursday July 23 will fund close to 13 Water Ambassadors’ projects which cost $2500 on average.
Water Ambassadors Canada is a faith-based non-profit organization that works to provide clean water to remote developing communities around the world.
Golf tournament co-ordinator Ursula Devolin called it a “great day.”
“We are so grateful that you took the time to play and donate to our mission to supply clean water to those in need. Though we cannot do our usual mission trips we are working even harder these days with in-country partners to help them meet the needs of their local communities” she said in an email to participants.
Although the winners of the fundraiser are the communities that benefit from water projects the top golfers at the event were Roger Trull Jon Vermeer Leigh Bull and Darrell Stamp. Their win earned The Golden Pump Trophy with a score of 58 best ball format. The winners will have their names added to the trophy and will receive gift certificates for golf at the Pinestone golf course and The Haliburton Driving Range as well as Rhubarb Restaurant.
Holding the event required some changes to reduce the potential spread of the coronavirus including having one golfer per cart unless golfers were from the same household to stagger the starts every 15 minutes and to have golfers start on the back nine instead of the front so the players would progress their play towards the washroom facilities instead of away from them.
“This was a very unusual time to plan a golf tournament. We set everything up with stage one parameters in mind and we thank you for being so adaptive” Devolin wrote. “Hopefully the new format and meal plan worked well for all of you. I also hope the day provided each of you with a little break from your work life your COVID concerns and troubles in general. Didn’t it feel great to get out?”
With planning taking place before the event organizers needed to plan according to the stage the province was in when they started.
This year’s focus was on how clean water isn’t just for drinking but is also for hygiene.
There were challenge games during the fundraiser such as Sink the Soap and Pitch the Poop to draw attention to this.
“Thank you again for making the water dreams of so many people come true! Wishing you all a fabulous summer” Devolin wrote.
