Freedom Outdoor Adventures Next!
(Photo) A happy winning team, aptly naming themselves "Should Be Working", of (L-R) Rantz Walters, Kevin Waldeck, Charles Sizemore and Ray Sprague celebrates its scramble score of 9-under-par 60 at the Whisperwood Golf Tournament Benefitting The Open Arms Foundation August 24.
Country's Barbecue raised funds for the visually impaired, Whisperwood Apartments for the "Open Arms" Foundation, now it's Freedom Outdoor Adventures' turn on Tuesday, September 7 to generate monies for family members of soldiers injured in war-related combat with its benefit tournament at Maple Ridge.
Click on "Current Events Calendar" on right side of homepage for details on the following:
Tuesday, September 7 -- Freedom Outdoors Adventures Golf Tournament (benefitting wounded soldiers, particularly those suffering from PTSD, and their families by providing therapeutic expenses-paid hunting and fishing trips to help them reconnect with the natural outdoors -- 3 p.m. shotgun with lunch beforehand. Offering a $25 discount to Maple Ridge members! Contact Scott Morgan at 706-718-6641 or scott.morgan@coldwellbanker.com. Note: Starting time may change due to cancellatgion of morning event !!!
On Thursday, August 26, eight-eight golfers competed in the unique "5th Annual Country's Midnight Express" golf tournament, with 9 holes played in twilight, followed by a Country's-prepared grilled chicken and salmon dinner on the back lawn and 9 more holes played in the dark with glowing balls, flagsticks, tee and cart-path markers.
Part of a three-day extravaganza including tournament-caliber blind golfers playing Maple Ridge with sighted coaches and the 30th Annual 5K Run at midnight, the tourney featured high spirits and the serious business of raising money for area citizens to enjoy tghe benefits of, among other gifts, a soundproof recording studio for the blind at the Columbus Main Library on Macon Rd.
First place went to the talented team of Kyle Albright, Charlie McDaniel, Rad Mitchell and Carson Tate with a 17-under-par 52 in Maple Ridge's last event using a shortened par-69 layout during resurfacing of eight greens. Finishing second was the Columbus Bank and Trust foursome of Jerry Coleman, Daniel Kim, Joe Lee and Chris Wiggins. Third place went to the Fraternal Order of Police team: J.D. Hawk, Randy Robertson, Charlie Rowe and Charles Shafer.
Organizers Scott Ressmeyer, Henry DeGracia and Kelley Amon did their usual amazing job on the golf tournament. Companies and organizations sponsoring teams included Triangle Beverage Wholesalers, Watley Heating & Air Conditioning, Chattahoochee Hospitality Association, Columbus Regional Healthcare System, Stitch Central, United Rentals, Ecolab, Boars Head, Robinson, Grimes & Co. CPA; Renaissance Dental, The Steeplechase at Callaway Gardens, COPACO, Yates and Woolfolk Insurance and Uptown Columbus/Columbus Visitors and Convention Bureau.
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Whisperwood Apartments Golf Tournament to Benefit "Open Arms" (a program that provides temporary apartment housing for families traveling out of town who have a member receiving medical care at Columbus-area hospitals) generated a small but enthusiastic field on a perfect sunny day. A nationwide effort by Whisperwood's parent Mid-America Apartment Communities, the Open Arms Foundation has, since 1994, provided more than 100,000 unit nights free to families facing such medical stays.
Maple Ridge members Mike and Mia Crowley spearheaded the tournament organization, helped by more than a dozen Whisperwood employee volunteers for Open Arms. Mia is a leasing management specialist for Whisperwood. Prior to her employment with MAAC, her sister suffered a brain aneurysm, and the resultant family hotel bills for almost a year fueled her passion for the "Open Arms" mission.
The "Should be Working" team of Charles Sizemore, Ray Sprague, Kevin Waldeck and Rantz Walters finished first in the Scramble at 9-under-par 60 on the course still using five temporary and eight double-greens. Each won $100 Maple Ridge golf shop certificates. Second place certificates of $40 went to Dennis Hagler, Paul Judah, (Maple Ridge member) Travis Lumpkin and Brian O'Neill of Kysor-Warren.
Mike Crowley assembled a team from his prior home base of Valdosta, GA called the Good Ole Boys, who finished third at 64, and included R.T. Harris, Steve Griffin and "Swifty" Swift. Fourth place (66) went to the "Long Ballers" team of Mike Dean, Simon Marsh, William McBride and Ray Santiago.
Longest Drive and Straightest Drive competitions were also held for $30 golf certificates on #8 and #10, respectively. Deemed a successful first-time proposition, Mia Crowley is already starting to make plans for another "Open Arms" fundraiser at maple Ridge for Spring 2011.
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