Each hole at the course is par three, giving the challenge its name.
“Par” is the term for the number of strokes required to move the ball from tee to hole.
The idea behind the challenge is to raise funds for various projects and programs of the Nappanee Boys & Girls Club. While there is no specific area where the funds are to be used, club personnel have a few ideas up their sleeves.
“The money will go into a new snack program at the club, and it will help with other program needs and general operations of the building,” director Holly Yoder said.
Yoder has been with the club since January, making this the first time she has helped with the outing. She belongs to a committee that also consists of Nick Juday and Phil Wiens. Together they book the course and the caterers, call on sponsors and enforce the rules.
To make the challenge more interesting, participants were only allowed to take four clubs per person onto the course. The game was played as a “two-man scramble,” meaning that teams consist of two golfers. However, the participants were not allowed to share their clubs with their partners.
There were two separate rounds, or “flights,” one at 8:30 a.m. and one at 12:30 p.m. Combined, approximately 55 golfers participated.
Both flights had a shotgun start, with each team beginning at a different hole. Teams played through the nine-hole course twice. Challenges included a hole-in-one contest for the players' first time through only, a longest putt contest that counted for both times through and prizes for first through fifth places and for last place.
All of the event sponsors were local businesses with an interest in supporting the club.
“This event couldn’t have happened without the support of the community and local businesses that sponsored the event,” Yoder said. “We’re grateful for Fairmont’s generosity in allowing us to use their facility.”
The Web site lists a few of the club's needs, ranging from everyday items like cookie cutters, movies and batteries to more expensive items like CD players, karaoke machines, even a Nintendo Wii.
A complete list of needs is available at www.bgcanappanee.org.
About the Boys
& Girls Club
Boys & Girls Club of America has existed in one capacity or another since 1860. Their mission statement is "to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens."
They seek to accomplish this through afters chool and weekend programs like sports, recreation and fitness, tutoring, character and leadership development, education and career training, health and life skills, the arts and specialized initiatives.
Boys & Girls Club of Nappanee
The Boys and Girls Club of Nappanee serves roughly 500 students between the ages of 6 and 18. The club is open weekdays after school until 7 p.m. and for teens only Tuesdays and Thursdays until 9 p.m.
The club is also open during the summer from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Some of the special features of the Nappanee club include a learning center with 12 computers, a teens-only lounge and two recreation rooms for younger club members, a snack room, an art room, a gym and more.
More information on the Nappanee club is available at 773-5200 or at
www.bgcanappanee.org .
More information on the national club is available at
www.bgca.org .
