Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Raising funds for charity - a golf marathon


Las Vegas Golf Courses attract Golf Marathon 2 from British Columbia, Canada

March 2, 2013 (Las Vegas) Sunshine and great golf courses in the Las Vegas area have a lot going for them in March – especially for Canadian golfers. Something about wet and rainy weather in British Columbia, and snow in most of the rest of Canada, sends golfers south.

This is why four amateur golfers decided to turn an annual golf holiday into a charity-fundraising golf marathon. Canadians Jim Kennedy, Lyall May, Steve Zenone, and Mike Bryant will be golfing 36 holes each day, with of goal of 1100 holes of golf, raising funds for the BC Hospitality Foundation “Tip Out to Help” Campaign. Golf Marathon 1, in October, 2012, saw them play 983 holes of golf. Golf Marathon 2 added an extra day to enable at least 1100 holes.

Normally, on a golf getaway, the fun-loving foursome would golf one round each day, perhaps with a couple extra rounds thrown in. The “GoGolf 4 BCHF Team” invite pledges and “tips” for their golfing endeavour. They have promised to golf 36 holes, daily, from March 2 to 10, 2013. The employees at Versacold Derwent Way, where Zenone and Kennedy work, have really got into the fundraising. At time of press Versacold staff had pledged over $500.00. The marathon is becoming a badge of honour.

This golf marathon attracted some attention in October of 2012. Golfers got it – 1000 holes of golf, in 7 days, that’s a lot of golf. Especially when daylight is around 7 am, dark is around 5:30 pm. Golfing dawn to dusk takes on new meaning. Even if the foursome plays well (remember, they are amateurs, and these guys aren’t spring chickens) shooting an average score of 80, with one practice stroke each shot, that means over 2500 golf swings in a week. People thought this was worth pledging a penny or two a hole; and the foursome raised over $2000.00 for the BC Hospitality Foundation.

The 2012 Tip Out to Help Campaign raised over $100,000.00.

Las Vegas golf courses thought this was a charity worth supporting, and this golf marathon was a good cause. Most of the courses were able to schedule the foursome in at daybreak, giving them the first tee-time of the day. Then, after a quick bite to eat, the foursome went back out early afternoon for round 2. March 2013, this same routine for eight days straight, on eight different courses, will help them reach the goal. A few courses they have played before, a few courses are new.

Jim Bolla and Par 4 Golf Management have been remarkable supporters of the Go Golf 4 BCHF team. One hundred percent of funds raised go to the BC Hospitality Foundation; the support of the Las Vegas golf courses allows them to golf more rounds in their charitable endeavour. The foursome covers all expenses themselves. They donated over $1000 as a team to the Foundation, thanks, in part, to the generosity of the Las Vegas golf courses.

Bing Smith, Chair of the BC Hospitality Foundation, says: “The Go Golf team makes a difference. Not only raising funds for the foundation, but, simple awareness for the foundation. The Tip Out To Help Campaign is year round. This golf marathon keeps us in the public eye – lets people know we are there to help them, in times of medical need.”

Anyone and everyone are invited to pledge support or to “Tip Out” the team. Donating online at www.tipouttohelp.com is the easiest way. Click on the team name – GoGolf 4 BCHF – and pledge or tip any amount. Tax receipts are issued

Primm Valley Golf Club, Badlands Golf Club, and Silverstone Golf Club, courses managed by Par 4 Golf Management, have hosted the foursome. They are kicking off the charity golf marathon with these three courses, March 2, 3 and 4, 2013. Sunshine, a warm welcome and great golf. Not a bad way to raise funds for a wonderful charity.

For Further Information, please contact:
Dawn Donahue
Go Golf Events Management
dawn@gogolfevents.com
604-628-9547
Advisory Board Director, BCHF

Bing Smith
Chair, BC Hospitality Foundation
bingsmith@shaw.ca
604-329-9307                                    
                                                                                                               
About the Foundation: www.bchospitalityfoundation.com  

Hope. Opportunity. Inspiration.

The British Columbia Hospitality Foundation (BCHF) provides financial support for individuals within the hospitality community who are coping with extraordinary costs arising from a serious health crisis. The Foundation also awards scholarships and bursaries to students enrolled in hospitality programmes in BC.

Our vision is to be the industry’s charity of choice, providing financial support for individuals within the hospitality community who are coping with extraordinary costs arising from a serious health or medical crisis.
Our mission is to offer financial assistance, beyond traditional medical benefits and insurances, to individuals within the hospitality community in their times of critical health or medical need. As well, we are committed to supporting the industry’s next generation by providing scholarships and bursaries to selected students enrolled in hospitality and culinary programs at partner schools in BC.


Who We Are:
We are a group of people who work together to help our own within the hospitality community. Together with a number of dedicated volunteers and partners, we raise funds to provide our colleagues hope, inspiration, and a helping hand by providing support when they are coping with extraordinary costs arising from a serious health or medical crisis, and that cost is not covered by conventional medical plans, EI, or other insurances or benefit plans.

In addition, a portion of the funds we raise provides scholarships and bursaries to selected students enrolled in hospitality or culinary programmes at partner post-secondary schools within British Columbia.

Tip Out to Help Campaign:
The Tip Out To Help campaign gives every person in BC’s hospitality industry an opportunity to help the BCHF—to help themselves. Register yourself or a team right now and help raise funds to fill the world’s largest tip jar. By joining your colleagues, you’ll be able to help those in our industry who need it. Together, we can make a difference.

The Hosting Golf Courses:
Par 4 Golf Management www.par4golfmanagement.com
Jim Bolla
702 210 6101

OB Sports Management – Coyote Springs Golf Course, Legacy Golf Club, Painted Desert Golf Club

TPC Las Vegas Golf Course - www.tpc.com/tpc-las-vegas

Supporting Golf Courses
The Revere Golf Club/Troon Golf www.reveregolf.com
Dennis Piekarski 702.617.5757

Las Vegas Paiute Golf Courses -www.lvpaiutegolf.com

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