Coming cold drives golf memories

FORE GEORGE: From left, Brian Gump, Tim Corcoran, and John Mancy prepare to play golf in memory of Mr. Mancy's brother, George, at Whiteford Valley.

Here it is, mid-October, and still it's great weather for hitting the links. Before we know it, only the diehards will have the drive to golf when temperatures dive. Perhaps a review of the golf season will stay in our minds until next time.

NANCY LOPEZ, who stole Toledoans' hearts when she played at the LPGA here many moons ago, hosted her 25th annual AIM Charity Golf Tournament to help kids with disabilities through Adventures in Movement. The Oct. 10 event was at her own Lopez Legacy Country Club in Ocala, Fla. The tourney began in Dayton, AIM's home.

Vince Gill and Amy Grant gave a concert at the Villages Polo Club in Ocala to kick off the event. While many celebs came - including Mrs. Lopez' husband and baseball legend, Ray Knight - a few Toledoans were there too. About four years ago, longtime Lopez friend Don Decker was asked to bring a foursome to the silver anniversary. How could he say no?

So Doug Rechtine, Carol Van Sickle, and her daughter Tracy Jamieson completed the Toledo team. Mr. Decker and Mr. Rechtine arrived a day early and were guests of Arnold Palmer at Bay Hill Country Club in Orlando, Fla. At the tourney, who should they run in to? Toledoans, including Rita Mansour and Sandy White.

GOLF for a Kid presented by the Family and Child Abuse Prevention Center was Sept. 26 at Belmont Country Club. The estimated net is about $10,000. That's thanks to the committee including Phil Safford, Craig Jones, Paul Abendroth, Michele Breiding, Bill Feniger, Michael Sawyer, and David Feniger.

"In the Swing of Things" tourney Sept. 26 at Heather Downs Country Club was for the Erie Shores Council Boy Scouts. Estimated net was $20,000.

FORE GEORGE: From left, Brian Gump, Tim Corcoran, and John Mancy prepare to play golf in memory of Mr. Mancy's brother, George, at Whiteford Valley.

THE Al Wagener Memorial Golf Tournament was Sept. 10 at Riverby Hills Golf Club. The event surpassed last year's $8,000 net for The Toledo Metroparks, said daughter Shannon Wagener Clarke.

STEAKS at Mancy's Steakhouse followed the George Mancy Invitational Tournament, Aug. 29 at the Whiteford Valley Golf Course. The more than $15,000 in proceeds go to the Anne Grady Center.

THE Alpha Phi Alpha Scholarship tournament was Aug. 27 by the Alpha XI Lambda chapter at Detwiler Golf Course. Chances for hole-in-one prizes were part of the fun. Extra special were the cash prizes. The first-place spot won $500; the second place team received $250. Chairman was Richard "Ritchie" C. Jackson; the estimated net was $3,000.

THE Children's Miracle Network "Chip in for Kids" Charity Golf Tournament was Aug. 8 at Sylvania Country Club. They lunched then hit the links. New this year was a Million Dollar Shoot Out. No one won the million bucks, but all had fun. The event netted around $38,000, which will support Mercy Children's Hospital programs.

THE TOLEDO Rotary Golf Outing was Aug. 1 at Toledo Country Club. The day was just for fun and offered loads of prizes. Chairmen were Jack Niggemyer and Bob Seeman.

THREESOME? Lou Woellner and Jan Merki have some company in their golf cart at Highland Meadows.

HIGHLAND Meadows Golf Club's Rally for a Cure Golf Tournament was July 24. The tourney, presented by Golf for Women magazine in Ridgefield, Conn., is one of some 3,000 nationwide contests. Players gathered for the scrambles-format event, which netted approximately $4,700. Titleist golf balls with the pink ribbon were among the prizes. A special closest-to-the-pin contest benefitted Arnold's Army Battles Prostate Cancer, netting nearly $1,300. Chairman was Pat Cary.

The club also had just-for-fun events: Frogtown Frolic was for the 18 holers' member-guest day at HMGC. The event, June 21, was led by chairman Lou Woellner.

TICKLED Pink was Stone Oak Country Club's theme for its Rally for a Cure golf party and tourney. Festivities started with a big bash July 22. There everyone, including the men, looked perky in pink. Food, spirits - including pink squirrels and cosmopolitans - a live auction, and a raffle were on the menu for fun.

FAIREST OF THE FAIRWAY: The feathers of, from left, Pam Hill, Mary Jo Sherman, and Kay Ingle are unruffled during a day of golf at the Stone Oak Country Club.

Among the revelers were Diane and Jack Phillips, newlyweds Jeff and Julie Kesler, Clyde and Bren Kunkel, Anne and Carl Hirsch, Jim and Mary Jo Sherman, Dorothy and Frank Sheehan, Pam and Mike Hills, Gerry and Gwen Ames, Kay and Wayne Starr, Carol and Harold Leupp, and Marcia and Jim McCoy.

The next week, the 18-hole ladies hit the links. First place winners were Sue Cardone, Lynn Lippman, Sallee Burns and Barbra Jarzabek. Alas, showers shooed the 9-holers away, but they still had lunch. The net was about $25,400.

MULLIGANS, betting holes, and door prizes were part of the fun at the Don King Memorial Golf Outing July 8 at Bedford Hills Golf Course. The $3,200 net supported the Don King Courage Award to a college-bound high school senior; a financial scholarship to a Regina Coeli School student, and a donation to the American Heart Association.

At the 19th hole, guests - including several media and sports types - shared stories about the late Mr. King, a well-known radio sports director and announcer. Some family members were present including the late Mr. King's wife, Donna, sons Don D. and Casey, and daughters Therese and Kelly. Next year's event is set for June 30, same place, same time.

AT BEDFORD HILLS, The Flintstone characters greeted some 200 guests at its June 16 and 17 fund-raiser for Make-A-Wish Foundation. Miniature golf and other activities kept the youngsters busy as adults hit the links. Estimated nets were $6,600.

FRIENDLY TIPS: From left, Michelle Ryan, Katy Walker, and Megan Gallup give Kim Turner some putting advice on the course at Sylvania Country Club.

GOOD GOLF, good food, good fun. Sylvania Country Club's guest day for the lady 9-holers was July 13. Among the ladies were Joan Glassberg, Connie Tolson, Julie Treuhaft, Marcia Rubini, and Nancy Katz.

REMAX Preferred's golf outing was June 28 at Bedford Hills Golf Club for the Children's Theatre Workshop. Chairman Todd Momany reports a net of $5,200 and that the event will be an annual affair.

"ALL THE rules go out the door and the winner is the person who has the most fun a day of hooks, shanks, mulligans, and triple-digit scores," read the invitation for Tee Party 2005 presented by the Advertising Club of Toledo. The June 17 event at Fallen Timbers Fairways netted about $3,300 for the scholarship foundation.

SWINGING: Gayle Eversole makes a swing and makes it count during the Babe Zaharias tournament at Brandywine Country Club.

THE BABE Zaharias Golf Classic celebrated its 21st anniversary June 13 at Brandywine Country Club. The 9 and 18-hole women's amateur tournament to benefit the American Cancer Society honored Kelli G. Andres, a cancer survivor. Event chairmen Gayle Eversole and Margo Leininger report a net of nearly $48,000. Seen on the links were Doris Berta, Marty Campana, and Anne LaVoie, who were gracious enough to include me in their foursome.

But here's the big news: Next year's tournament, set for June 26 at Brandywine Country Club, has been renamed On Course for Cures to honor the late Laurie Gladieux, who envisioned an even better event. The preparty, Colors for the Cure, a dinner and fashion show, is April 28 at Gladieux Meadows.

"This event, which uses cancer survivors as models, brings hope for the future," said Jane Larsen, a volunteer and friend of Mrs. Gladieux.

"THE RANDY Kordash Golf Classic" sponsored by the St. Charles Mercy Health Foundation was June 13 at Stone Oak Country Club. The event honored the late Mr. Kordash, the former hospital CEO who started the event in 1990. The tourney has raised nearly $1 million since then.

Golfers putted their way to raise nearly $60,000 for the hospital's Mobile Health Van. Among the players were some Kordash family members, plus CEO David Ameen, Ted Jenkins, Becky Furhman, Steve and Gwen Mickus, Don and Judy Turner, Marty Connors, Don Saunders, and Judge Don Petroff. Co-chairmen were Bob Marquette and Phil Harrison.

TO THE POINT: Chuck Ealey and Christine Brennan get straight to the point: the importance of the Connecting Point's golf outing at Heather Downs Country Club. The pair will be hosts for next year's event.

LEGACY for Kids Inaugural Celebrity Pro-Am: A Golf Event for Charity sponsored by Owens-Illinois, was June 10 at Heather Downs Country Club. The recipient of the nearly $18,000 net was Connecting Point. Celebrities Chuck Ealey and Christine Brennan were among the 21 area pros who were paired with 120 golfers. Autographs, team pictures, mulligans, a betting hole, and cash and merchandise prizes were included along with meals.

The great news: Mr. Ealey and Ms. Brennan will host the tourney that has been renamed The Annual Chuck Ealey and Christine Brennan Legacy for Kids Golf Classic for next year's June 19 event. New name but same place, the HDCC. It's extra special for Ms. Brennan because Mr. Ealey is her idol.