On The Town: Charity golf

Heartbeat Golf Outing. The Clark team: Brian Grime and Jay Stricker.

Left to right Darryl Lycourt and Denise Benton at The Classic presented by Hollywood Casino at the Belmont Country Club in Perrysburg.

Golfing in the name of charity is a win-win event for all parties involved. The golf club gets the business, participants have fun while networking, and charities reap the cash. Toledo's biggest charity golf outing starts this week at Highland Meadows Golf Club -- the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic presented by Kroger. Since 1984, the tournament has raised $6.5 million for more than 115 charities.

The Classic presented by Hollywood Casino Toledo for Heart Care at ProMedica Toledo Hospital was a putting tournament at Belmont Country Club with cocktails and grazing on the green. Guests shopped the silent auctions and auctioneer Jerry Anderson of WTOL-TV, Channel 11, enticed everyone with a France vacation, a day of golf with golf course designer Arthur Hills, passes to the 2013 Masters at Augusta, and more.

Emcee Melissa Voetsch of WTOL-TV, Channel 11, a heart patient, thanked everyone for their support and gave a few statistics about heart disease. Dr. James Bingle said the hospital treats nearly 1,000 heart attack victims each year. Honorary chairman Dean Kasperzak, a hospital foundation board member, is a thankful heart patient.

PHOTO GALLERY:  Charity golf outings

Event chairmen Barrie Howell, Darryl Lycourt, Randa Mansour-Shousher, and Denise Benton, assisted by a vast committee, report a net of $200,000, which includes $75,000 donated from hospital medical staff and Northwest Cardiology Consultants.

The ninth annual Savage Foundation Golf Classic presented by MetLife Investors at Sylvania Country Club netted $82,000 in spite of the rained-out day, said event chairman Dan Steinberg, co-president and CEO of Savage and Associates, Inc. This year's charities include Beach House, Family House, Friendship Circle, Double ARC, Camp Courageous, and Josina Lott.

Mark Gooremont and former Lourdes president Robert Helmer try to keep dry in the clubhouse at Bedford Hills Golf Club for the Lourdes University Hit the Links golf outing.

The Merrill Lynch ProMedica Kids Unlimited Celebrity Golf Classic at Highland Meadows Golf Club netted more than $75,000 for after-school and summer programs for children in the inner city. Celebrities included Austin Carr, formerly of the Cleveland Cavaliers and now the team's TV color announcer, and Chuck Ealey, former quarterback for the University of Toledo Rockets.

Martha Reeves of Motown fame helped the Norman and Louise Jones Foundation of Toledo Lucas County, Inc. Second Annual Golf Outing at Brandywine Country Club raise $48,000. Ms. Reeves golfed then changed into a sparkly outfit and sang favorites such as "Heat Wave" and "Dancing in the Streets." The PA system was not working, but she was a good sport. Then during the dinner auction, a glittery dress Ms. Reeves donated -- worn many moons ago at the Copacabana, was on the auction block. Event chairmen and title sponsors Sarah and John Bates won the bid.

Lourdes University Hit the Links golf outing presented by Goodremont's at Bedford Hills Golf Club was technically cancelled due to rain, however more than 75 golfers stayed to play in the rain. The event netted $35,000.

The 12th Annual D.O.V.E. (Development of Vietnam Endeavors) Golf Outing at the South Toledo Golf Club raised more than $23,000. The winning team at 14 under for a score of 57 included renowned golf architect and Toledo resident, Arthur Hills, D.O.V.E. Fund founding member Fred Grimm, Mike Casey, and Tom Tillander.

Goodwill Industries of Northwest Ohio Summer Golf Classic at Stone Ridge Golf Club in Bowling Green raised more than $20,000, according to event chairmen and board members Dan Smeltzer of Plante & Moran and Kevin Carmony of Butler Capital. While golfers played, many had their cars washed by Goodwill's Eco-Wash, a mobile steam cleaner.

Little Sisters of the Poor Sacred Heart Home Golf Outing at Eagles Landing Golf Course in Oregon netted $20,000.

Practically a Golf Tournament to benefit the Epilepsy Center of Northwest Ohio was at Levis Commons. The 18-hole miniature golf course was built by local companies and builders. The event netted $15,000.

The fourth annual Tom Kitz Memorial Open at the South Toledo Golf Club raised more than $14,000 to support research in the early detection of pancreatic cancer.

Heartbeat of Toledo's Fifth Annual Golf Outing at Bedford Hills Golf Course in Temperance raised about $11,000.

Volunteers of America's 16th annual Golf Outing at Brandywine Country Club netted $8,500 for food and shelter for low-income households, according to event chairman Corey Hupp, TDC Companies.

Heartbeat Golf Outing. The Clark team: Brian Grime and Jay Stricker.

The seventh annual Karen Creque Memorial Golf Outing "Tee Off for Teal," a benefit for the Ovarian Cancer Connection at Stone Ridge Golf Club in Bowling Green, netted $7,500.

The Spina Bifida Association of Northwest Ohio Golf outing at Heather Downs Country Club netted more than $5,000, reports event chairman Ben Fitzpatrick.

The eighth annual Derek Doney Golf Classic at Bedford Hills Golf Club netted more than $6,000. Event chairmen Dave Doney and Ross Judy said the proceeds benefited St. John's Jesuit High School scholarships in honor of Derek, who was a graduate of St. John's and OSU, before his death in 2004 from a car accident at the age of 24.

Ballet Theatre of Toledo Ballet hosted a golf outing at Belmont Country Club that reaped a lot of fun and raised $6,000.

The Waterville Area Chamber of Commerce golf outing at Valleywood Golf Club in Swanton raised $350 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

More golf outings for charity continue in the season and into the fall, so stay tuned for an update.