At 7:50 AM on a sultry Saturday morning in late August, 70 Orlando Sigs
and their guests strained to hear the voice of Kelly Sheehan, Tournament
Coordinator, as she spelled out the rules of play. With warm words of
encouragement from Director of Golf, Jim Keane, and the whirring of golf cart
engines, the band of golfers sped off for a shotgun start – with a corps of
Concierge Caddies and assorted hangers on – to tame “The Shark’s” latest test
of golf – the 7,122-yard, Par 72 course at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club at
Grande Lakes, Orlando’s brand new luxury resort. CFAC’s 1st Annual “Puttin’
on the Ritz for Kids” Charity Golf Tournament to benefit Sigma Chi’s
recommended philanthropy, The Children’s Miracle Network, was well and
truly under way.
“The Shark”, Australian native and Florida resident Greg Norman,
designed a course that weaves through Shingle Creek, the headwaters of
Florida’s Everglades. Past sunning gators and preening egrets our band of
golfers slashed their way across Central Florida’s newest course – mindful of the
course record of 64 set only weeks before by none other than Tiger Woods.
Out on the course at Par 3 holes Number 8 and Number 17 awaited
special challenges. Two of the newest entries from Daimler Chrysler – a
“Pacifica” and its German-engineered cousin, the “Crossfire” -- stood on the
back tee-box as trophies for holes-in-one, which, sadly, went un-earned that
day.
Some 262 drink coupons later, we had a winner. In fact, we had several
as announced by Master of Ceremonies and WFTV/Channel 9 Sportscaster, Dan
Hellie. Taking top honors in the scramble format was the foursome dubbed
“World Hockey Association 2” which included: George McLeod, Chris Li
Pumas, Zac Boyer and Tommy Stewart. The runner-up foursome was Team
Dixon, consisting of Bob Dixon, Derrick Dixon, Dave Pritchett and Sam
Butler. Third place honors went to Team Lawton made up of David Lawton,
Mark Jackson, Ray Jackson and Jim Worthington. Winner of the longest
drive was Bryan Irish, and Glenn Clark took the prize for closest to the pin.
Back at the stylish, new Ritz-Carlton Clubhouse, where a light lunch
refreshed the participants, there were even more winners. Every player won a
Raffle Prize. Some 35 free nights of accommodation at various Marriott lodgings
across the country were picked up in a Silent Auction – thanks to the efforts of
Brother Mike Wainwright, Director of Hotel Sales at the Orlando World Center
Marriott.
The most important winners, however, were the Kids of CMN – the
250,000 children served each year by Orlando’s two area CMN-affiliated
hospitals: The Shands Children’s Hospital at the University of Florida and
Arnold Palmer’s Hospital for Children and Women. Cathy Droke, CMN
Events Manager, was on hand to receive a check for $20,000 as the
Tournament’s contribution to CMN for 2003.
Special recognition and thanks go to the tournament’s organizing
committee, and especially its Chairman, Karl Palvisak (who was called away on
a last-minute business trip), his Co-Chairman, Henry King, David Lawton, Alan
Fidelo, Michael Drew, Joe Hartman, Bryan Irish, Noel Keller, P. J. Stephens
and Rob Clarkson.
Congratulations to all this year’s winners, and thanks to all our
Tournament Players and Sponsors for their generous support. We look forward
to welcoming you all to the 2nd Annual “Puttin’ on the Ritz for Kids”
Tournament in 2004!
Check Presentation to CMN
Noel Keller and Bryan Irish working hard!