American golfers are generous people. Thousands of fundraiser tournaments throughout the country raise an estimated $3 billion to $4 billion each year.
The Cape Region does its part with events at every course in the area.
Thanksgiving week is a good time to celebrate this rewarding facet of golf in our area. Here are some examples.
Kings Creek Country Club hosted the third annual McGuinness Memorial tournament and auction Oct. 6, supporting the Brain Cancer Answer Foundation. Organization funds help with brain tumor research and advocacy for patients and caregivers.
Dr. Christine Emery runs the event and is a retired neuroradiologist and resident of Kings Creek. She and her neighbors gathered to support the cause, with the event named after Nicholas McGuinness, who died from a malignant brain tumor in 2022 at age 29.
The sold-out tournament raised more than $143,000 for the National Brain Tumor Society. For more information, go to braincanceranswer.org.
Bill Schab and 30 of his friends came together for his annual Night Golf event Nov. 7 at Bob and Wendy Stenger’s Shamrock Par 3 Golf Course west of Milton. The tournament supports the Maureen Schab Fund for Education. Created by Schab and his children in honor of his wife and their mother, it provides scholarships for fourth-year students in Delaware Tech’s bachelor’s degree in education program at the college’s Georgetown campus.
Schab said this year’s tournament brought in about $1,250, which is roughly the same as last year. That is enough to fund about six scholarships.
To make a donation, go to tglf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=1101 or mail a check to Maureen Schab Education Fund c/o Greater Lewes Foundation, P.O. Box 110, Lewes DE 19958.
Golfers who approach the counter at The Rookery Golf Club’s pro shop often deal with Rob Robison, a smiling older gentleman ready to check them in. Most don’t know that he is also retired Marine Corps Maj. Robison. When he’s not working the counter at The Rookery, Robison stays busy as a retired Marine assisting his fellow service members. Robison is on the board of directors of the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the Folds of Honor Foundation. The national organization raises millions of dollars for scholarships for the children and spouses of the country’s fallen or disabled military and first responders. It has funded more than 73,000 such awards, using dozens of golf events each year as the primary mechanism.
His second annual Delmarva Folds of Honor tournament took place at The Rookery Nov. 11, with dozens of sponsors and a sold-out field of dozens of players. Robison estimated the net proceeds this year totaled $50,000.
The Baywood Ladies Golf League held its second annual Pink Ball event Oct. 28 at the Long Neck golf course, with 128 golfers and friends participating, including Baywood’s pros and pro shop staff. The tournament raised $6,500 for the Beebe Medical Foundation, targeted toward the Tunnell Cancer Center.
Cape Henlopen Elks Lodge 2540 held its charity golf tournament Oct. 1 at The Rookery, aimed at supporting Delaware veterans. The event raised more than $17,000 with 124 players. A portion of the proceeds was presented to the local Canines Assisting Service Heroes organization.
Epworth United Methodist Church in Rehoboth operates several community outreach programs, two of which are centered on food and fellowship. For several years, church volunteers have run its Drive Away Hunger golf outing, with the 2025 edition held Nov. 1 at the American Classic Golf Club in Lewes.
This year’s event raised about $16,000. Co-chair David Streit oversees the food pantry operation, and in a Nov. 17 Cape Gazette story said, “Funds are needed now especially as the number of people served is growing, over 14,000 in the past year.” The church’s Food Rescue program also collected more than 160 tons of food that would have been thrown away, and put it to good use instead. For more information or to make donations, go to epworth.faith/food-ministry/.
The First Tee of Delaware runs or benefits from tournaments and donations throughout the Cape Region. The organization uses golf to develop character and personal growth.
This year’s main event was the April 22 Delmarva Scramble at Rehoboth Beach CC. It brought in more than $55,000 at the tournament and auction. Other First Tee fundraisers included $3,400 from the Silverwoods/Matt McIntyre Memorial at Bear Trap Dunes; $1,500 from the Pat McRae event at Cripple Creek CC in Ocean View; the annual November pro-am at The Rookery that netted an estimated $10,000; and the Seaford Scramble at Hooper’s Landing that produced $7,000.
In addition, the First Tee benefits from significant in-kind support by eight local courses that make their properties available for First Tee programs without charge. These include American Classic, Bear Trap Dunes, Hooper’s Landing, Kings Creek, Mulligan’s Pointe, Rehoboth Beach CC, The Rookery and Plantation Lakes.
The Fore the Kids online auction benefiting First Tee began Nov. 7 and runs through Dec. 2. Rounds of golf at more than 50 golf courses are open for bidding at https://firstteedelaware.org/2024-fore-the-kids-online-auction/. For more information, go to firstteedelaware.org.
If you have the time or the dime, consider participating in these or other charity golf events as part of meeting your own charitable goals.
