LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
CAMP Golf |
by Stefani Deoul |
Four "G's" and a God Shot
The first G would be G as in Golf; or for this article, the CAMP Rehoboth Women's Golf League. It began modestly enough in 2002, led by Judy Olsen and Joanne Kempton. It had twelve members. The following year Norma Clark led the league and in 2004, Barb Thompson and Evie Simmons took the helm. At the ripe old age of six, the league now boasts 130 people and the folks at Marsh Island Golf Club actually close the course to the public to let the league play. Which brings us to the second G. G as in Games and/or Gamesmanship. How do you keep it fun, interesting and fair to golfers of all levels? The CAMP Rehoboth Women's Golf League succeeds by mixing it up. Regular golf outings are intermixed with nine-hole games designed so that anyone can win. There's Pink Ball where each team (featuring one A level player, two B level players, and one C level player) has one pink ball and that ball accumulates its own score as each team member gets their turn with the special ball. If the pink ball is lost, you are out of the running for that gamealthough as a foursome you continue general play. The team whose pink ball has the lowest score wins. Another game is Capture the Flag. If you are on a Par 3, 130 yards, you have three swings to make par. In Capture the Flag, once you hit the green your turn is over. So a player who might need three strokes to get there still might be closer than a player who needs only one. This moves us on to G number threeGaiety. After nine-holes of fierce, and occasionally friendly, competition (it is golf after all) it's time to ease on down to the Pelican Grill, where Lori (the bartender) and Chuck (the chef) await the onslaught. It is also time for the person with the fewest putts of the day to claim a Pelican Grill $10 gift certificate sponsored by Lana Warfield of Prudential Gallo, Realtors, and perhaps redeem their first drink (or two) on the house. Other prizes are also up for grabs, varying week to week as each game changes. So as G number three suggests, this is the moment for ribbing and roasting, bragging and boasting that only a group "instant replay" can bring. But now it's time to move onto the fourth GGiving. For the past three years, on the last Friday in June, the CAMP Rehoboth Women's Golf League has held a tournament, open to all. This year, ninety players strutted and putted, silent auctioned and Chinese auctioned their way to raising in excess of eight thousand five hundred dollars. This money is shared between the CAMP Rehoboth Building Fund, the Metropolitan Community Church, and the West Rehoboth Community Center Children's Programs. And now we get to the promised God Shot (and no, it does not refer to the ever elusive hole-in-one). This past June, as the prizes were being awarded for such accomplishments as "the longest drive," representatives from each organization spoke briefly. First to speak was Steve Elkins on behalf of CAMP Rehoboth followed by Alicia Miller for MCC. Speaking for West Rehoboth Community Center was Barb Thompson. As she stood and looked out past the people to the golf course greens tears began to flow. For the past several years, she has shared her love of golf, teaching the gameand its life lessonsto the children of West Rehoboth. What Barb Thompson knew was West Rehoboth Community Center no longer had a van to transport their children to the golf course nor the art league nor the library. Without that van, those children would be confined to their streets and a chance to see a bigger world would remain unavailable to them. What not many knew is that Barb herself was raised in an orphanage and knows first hand what it means when someone takes time to show you the view outsideit leads to aspirations of greater things. And she is also proof positive that all aspirations are achievable once you have them. Barb tried to stop the tears, but time froze for just a moment until someone finally stood up and asked what was going on. And after hearing the story, one golfer instantly pledged five thousand dollars and dared others to come aboard. In real time, it was only two minutes, but in spirit, it was eleven thousand miracle dollars later. And when Deb Qualey called Bryan Hecksher (owner of Auto Gallery) and told him the story, he got it donevan, insurance and a three year warranty. And so when you're out there driving and see a van with a side-panel sign that reads (in part) West Side New Beginnings and a rear panel that reads (in part) "To Donate and Keep This Van on the Road call CAMP Rehoboth at 302-227-5620 (thank you to Gwen and Katie of Sign-A-Rama), remember that this year the CAMP Rehoboth Golf League came with a fifth G and that stands for God Shot. So whether it's a Mashie or a Brassie or maybe even a Baffy (those would be actual names of clubs), grab a wedge or an iron and mark the date in next year's calendar. You know you'll get four "G's" out of itand maybe even an inspiring and unexpected fifth. For information about the the golf league and next year's tournament log on to crgolfleague@comcast.net. Pictured: Presentation of the van to West Side New Beginnings. The three winning golf foursomes, and the 2008 Tournament Sponsors. No Sponsors No "G's" It takes sponsors to make the tournament work. Here's the list that made eight thousand five hundred plus dollars possible. We say thank you. Sponsored by CAMP Rehoboth Tournament Sponsor: Karen Gustafson and The Mike Kogler Team At Long & Foster, Realtors Corporate Sponsors: Barb Hines & Nancy Froome, SSD, Inc. Technology Partners Barb Thompson Tee It Up Golf Cathy Austin Prudential Financial Hildy Forman Domesticall, Inc. Diane Lusk, Ladies 2000 Lana Warfield Prudential Gallo Realtors Virginia Cubberley, LLCSmartTitle, Citizens Lending Group |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 18, No. 10 July 25, 2008 |