LAST YEAR, PGA Director of Golf Vito DeSantis successfully completed a stiff test: A one-man, 100-hole marathon golf outing to raise funds for the Port Ludlow Seattle Children’s Hospital Guild.
DeSantis said before the event that he had always thought of mixing a marathon of golf with raising funds for a worthy cause such as disaster relief.
When guild members came to him with thoughts on a fundraiser, DeSantis eschewed the normal 18-hole scramble and broached the idea of the 100-hole marathon.
He told former PDN columnist Jennifer Jackson before the event that he had a reason that was close to home: His niece was diagnosed with lymphoma when she 12 years old.
He visited her when she was treated at Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital.
“I saw firsthand how they help children in need and their families,” he said.
DeSantis was sold, and the fundraising began in earnest.
Playing from just before dawn at 5:30 a.m. and finishing to applause from onlookers at Niblicks Cafe overlooking the Tide Course’s ninth hole at 6 p.m., DeSantis raised more than $7,000 in donations for children’s care at the hospital.
This year, DeSantis and guild members are back with another golf marathon, but this time they have help in the form of Port Ludlow assistant pros Darren Posey and Adam Barrows.
The trio will partner on a 400-hole marathon on Thursday, Oct. 3.
Pledges are being solicited right now. Donors may pledge one flat amount for the team of pros, or designate a specified amount for total number of pars, birdies and eagles made by the team.
Included is the opportunity to “double the pledge” if the goal of 400 holes is reached by the trio.
Every penny raised will go to the Seattle Children’s Hospital to benefit uncompensated care for children in our area or to support research at the hospital.
Seattle Children’s Hospital serves a region of four states: Alaska, Washington, Idaho and Montana.
Seriously ill children from the entire area are airlifted to Seattle when their conditions require it, regardless of their families’ ability to cover costs.
In 2012, 410 patients from Jefferson County were served, providing uncompensated care totaling $231,213. The need is even greater in Clallam County.
At the conclusion of the marathon, a spaghetti dinner will be served in Niblicks Cafe, along with a raffle of items from the area.
Pledge forms are available at the Port Ludlow Golf Pro Shop and other locations.
Cedars long drive
Long drivers will battle to earn the title of “Longest Hitter on the Peninsula” when Cedars at Dungeness in Sequim hosts a Long Drive Challenge sponsored by 7 Cedars Casino on Saturday.
Competitors will see if they have the skills to take on RE/MAX World Long Drive competitor, Cedars food and beverage manager Matt Eveland.
Eveland will compete in the first round of the RE/MAX World Long Drive Championships in Mesquite, Nev., next week.
Cedars event has four divisions: An open division, a senior division for ages 50 and older, a woman’s open division, and a junior division for ages 18 and younger.
Players will hit four balls in two rounds, each lasting 2 minutes and 45 seconds. The longest ball counts for your score.
The top four drivers will advance to a final round in which they will hit six balls in 2:45.
Drivers can’t exceed 50 inches in length, and tees must be 4 inches or shorter.
Entry is $50 and the prize pool (for all except the junior division) is 100 percent of the prize pool plus $500.
Registration begins at 1 p.m. with a 2 p.m. start.
For complete rules and more info, phone Cedars at 360-683-6344.
SkyRidge scramble
SkyRidge Golf Course in Sequim will hold a three-person scramble event with a 9 a.m. shotgun start on Saturday.
Each player will have to use three drives, and there will be gross and net divisions along with team KPs and team long putt challenges.
Cost is $90 per team, $30 per player, and includes range balls and lunch after play.
Carts are $15 per seat.
The first 22 teams to sign up are in, so phone 360-683-3673 and see if there is still room.
Cedars Big Cup tourney
The first Big Cup tournament was so popular last spring that Cedars at Dungeness has decided to start a fall “Go Big” version, this time set for Saturday, Oct. 3.
This event is a one-person scramble with all holes having 8-inch diameter cups.
The big theme extends to the lunch provided: Footlong hot dogs and 22-ounce beers, waters and sodas.
It’s open to all levels of ability, with Callaway and the usual gross and net divisions.
Cost is $50 and includes green fees, competition, range balls and lunch. Phone Cedars at 360-683-6344.
Driving in the Dark
Clear your evening now for an entertaining and unique golf event on Saturday, Sept. 21.
The eighth annual Port Townsend Rotary Driving in the Dark Golf Tournament features nine holes of late-afternoon golf, and nine holes played in the dark with glow-in-the-dark golf balls.
Play gets underway at 4:30 p.m.
Cost for this one is $75 per player, or $350 per five-person team.
Entry for a $100 putting contest is included in the fee.
There is a $10,000 cash hole-in-one prize at this tourney.
Entry also includes green fees, range balls, catered dinner, raffle and prizes, glow balls and a desert buffet.
Port Townsend assistant pro Gabriel Tonan says it’s “one of the most fun events of the year and the only five-person scramble at PTGC.”
Hole sponsorships are available.
For more info, phone Curtis Stacey at 360-302-0979.
Drive for the Cure set
SunLand Women’s Golf Association (SWGA) and SunLand Lady Niners are joining together to sponsor a Drive for the Cure Golf Tournament on Thursday, Sept. 26.
Proceeds from the event will pay for breast cancer detection services at Olympic Medical Center for women in need right here on the North Olympic Peninsula.
The event is open to all women, and will begin with a 9 a.m. shotgun start for those playing 18 holes, and a nine-hole game at 11 a.m.
Cost is $36 for 18 holes and lunch, $26 for nine holes and lunch, and $12 for lunch only.
In addition, a minimum donation of $20 is suggested for the OMC Foundation.
Magic Putts and mulligans will be on sale for $1 each.
A delightful Raggedy Ann doll will be raffled off to a lucky winner.
This annual tournament has a reputation for collecting major funds to fight breast cancer. All donations will be used to help area women.
An anonymous SunLand member has once again committed to donate $1 for every $3 raised in this event.
The deadline to sign up is noon on Monday, Sept. 23.
For more information, call SunLand Pro Shop at 360-683-6800 ext. 13, and ask to have Kathy Tiedeman or Judy Kelley return your call.
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Golf columnist Michael Carman can be reached at 360-417-3527 or pdngolf@gmail.com.