Play A'Round golf outing makes the green for Carousel

Joe Hornaday
Greensburg Daily News

May 07, 2008 04:03 pm

— The 9th annual Play A’Round golf outing got off to a quick but windy start early Wednesday morning as dozens of local golfers, politicians and one celebrity came out to play a game while helping out a good cause at the Greensburg Country Club.
All money collected at the event will go to the Carousel Play and Learn Center, an organization that provides daycare and educational services to young children.
“This event is huge for us,” Carousel board member Karen Higginbotham said.
The golf outing is the center’s largest fundraiser, and last year it helped Carousel purchase a new van for its students.
Donations were being accepted before the putting contest and 18 hole tournament started, and just as the events got underway, golf committee co-chair Angie Messer estimated that the event had brought in approximately $6,000.
“We look at what the needs of the center are at the time,” Higginbotham explained. “Whatever they need, that’s where the money goes.”
Messer concurred, noting that the specifics of how the funds would be spent had not yet been worked out.
“We will use the money to further all of the wonderful things we do for the kids every day,” she said.
While the main event may have been the 18 hole charity tournament, the day was started with the putting contest, with special guest judge Mayor Gary Herbert. At the putting greens, contestants lined up for two shots at getting their golf balls nearest to the pin. When the balls stopped close, Herbert, using his own tape measure, would gauge the distance to the cup.
Herbert often offered a little advice to the putters.
“Take a good look at it,” he said. “Make Tiger proud.”
Golfer Marcus Allen came away with the first place finish in the putting contest, and was awarded with a cooler full of goodies, including golf accessories, gift certificates and two bottles of wine.
Shortly after the putting competition was finished, the tournament began with some special guests leading the golfers in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Several preschool students from Carousel recited the Pledge for the rapt crowd, which awarded the preschoolers with a round of applause. Messer followed the students with a thank you for all involved and participating in the fundraiser, and specifically recognized the five teams of four from Delta, the business that had made the biggest contribution to the golf outing.
Bruce Vanderbur then introduced the day’s celebrity guest, former Indiana Pacers forward Darnell “Dr. Dunk” Hillman. Hillman played six seasons for the Pacers in the 1970s and gained notoriety for his modish dunks. Hillman’s participation in the golf outing was auctioned off to a team from Delta for $350, and he spent the rest of the day playing alongside them.
“I came out to help the kids,” Hillman said. “This fundraiser is for a good cause.”
The former Pacer noted that he often gets invited to charity events, but he cannot attend all of them.
“I had an inkling about this one,” he said. “We help out and get a good round of golf in.”

Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.