On the surface, golf looks like a totally selfish game.
You carve out a good chunk of any day to get out there and play. You scratch out time to get to the practice range for the lifetime job of bettering your play. Usually, you focus on your own score. It costs a decent amount of money. Indulgent, right?
But charity golf tournaments – like the fantastic one I played in at Southers Marsh Golf Club in Plymouth last weekend (https://southersmarsh.com/) – fund and fuel everything from medical research to community youth programs.
According to the Mass Golf Economic Impact Report, golf events and associated donations generate approximately $72 million each year for charities in the Bay State.
Seventy two million dollars for non-profits that would otherwise go without. To me, that’s a remarkable lift for a sport.
So what’s it like to play in a charity tourney and what’s the basic etiquette when you play?
Choosing your event: For me, it’s often a tourney supporting something I – or a friend – has a passion for.
In the case of last week, my spouse and I signed on to play in the LGMD2D Foundation (https://lgmd2d.org/) tourney because that foundation supports research and treatment for a rare form of muscular dystrophy a friend’s two children are battling. The leaders of this event, Stacey Antonino and family, are friends and many of our shared friends were playing or volunteering. Box easily checked for my why.
But you need not wait for a friend to create an event: Charity tourneys are open to all and a great way to play a course you’ve yet to get on, meet some new folks and even learn about the charity being supported. You can find a list of many of the state’s tourneys at https://www.massgolf.org/.
What to expect that day: The Antonino family knocked it out of the park, hitting every note needed to both make the day great for the attendees and raise a hefty amount for LGMD2D.
We arrived 90 minutes before tee time, a must-do for charity events. After signing in (and collecting our great swag) we were able to bid on the silent auction, purchase raffle tickets, sip on some beverages and warm up on the driving range.
Our event was a full scramble shotgun start – most charity tournaments are either scramble or shamble in order to move the large playing field along. It worked at this event: with 72 foursomes, we still moved along relatively well. And while scrambles may not be purist golf, it’s fun, particularly when putting, to work as a team.
You’ll find more ways to win than the lowest score. Expect a longest drive and closest to the pin contest; some events even have prizes like a new car for a hole-in-one.
Before we teed off we learned a bit about what we were playing for and post play we’d hear even more, including words of thanks and courage from people impacted by the condition.
There’s almost always a meal post match; you’ll want to stay for that not just to bid more on items, but to celebrate the winners and the success of the event. Souther’s put out a great spread, adding to the excellent vibe of the day.
How to be a great player that day: The great thing about playing a charity event is – to be colloquial – everyone wins. After all, you’re using your sport to better the world. But there are ways you can excel.
Matching team attire can elevate the spirits of teams in charity golf tournaments. (Moira McCarthy photo)
Start with your wardrobe. There are no special rules for charity events (just be sure to read up on the host club’s dress code). But you can take it to a greater level with matching team attire. In this case, one of my playing partners, Amy, suggested we learn the charity’s colors and plan matching looks for that day that also salute the reason we were there. Green it is.
And it’s great to make a splash. We turned to Sunday Swagger (https://sundayswagger.com/) for that, landing on some vibrant and fun jerseys that were the talk of the event. Showing your support in ways like this is a visual nod to the hosts – telling them you know why you are there.
At a charity event, your attitude means more than perhaps any other time on the course. Put aside your golf-related anger issues and remember that this is a day of fun and support. Of course we all want to win, but as an ace golfer friend once told me, “The best tool to pull out of your golf bag is your sparkling personality.” He’s not wrong and on a tourney day, he’s even more right. Sportsmanship now more than ever.
You’ll find – as we did with the Antonino family and their friends – that those running the tourney will be out and around the course all day to cheer you on. Engage with them. If you have time while waiting to tee off, ask them more about their mission. It will make them happy but also fuel your play even more.
And when you win? If the prizes are in cash, hand them right back to the host – as everyone at this event did. Sometimes, the glory is enough – and funding the charity is the reason you’re there. Golfers may seem obsessed with the sport, but we can do good for the world, one charity tourney at a time.