LAFD Golf Invitational 2011
Whether you love a challenging course or just enjoying a beautiful afternoon out on the green, there are few things better than a day of golf. A day of golf for a good cause might just top that list.
For over a decade, the LAFD Golf Invitational Tournament has been one of the biggest fundraisers for The Widows, Orphans and Disabled Firemen's Fund, bringing golfing enthusiasts and other supporters of the charity together for a day full of fun. The 14th annual Golf Invitational, held on September 19th, 2011, was no exception.
"Our core principle is to take care of our families and the ones who are left behind. So events like this are what allow us to do our job," said John Jacobsen, president of the Los Angeles Firemen's Relief Association.
For the second year in a row, the tournament was held at the prestigious MountainGate Country Club in Brentwood. The 27-hole course designed by the famed Ted Robinson (18 holes of which are used for the LAFD Invitational) offered an exciting challenge for the players. The breathtaking views from high in the Santa Monica Mountains, along with the beautiful facilities, made it a beautiful setting for everyone, whether they golfed or not.
Registration started bright and early, with plenty of golfers opting to purchase a Mulligan Package when they picked up their tee pack. The Hole-In-One Harley donated by Harley Davidson of Glendale was on display across from the registration table, giving the golfers a taste of the competition to come. There was a wide variety of sponsors present, including golfers from Chicago Equity Partners, Principal Global Investors, HealthSCOPE, and Anthem Blue Cross.
"I spent 34 years in the LAPD, so these are all my friends — all the firefighters I knew who’ve come to rescue me over the years. So this is my opportunity to come and help them and for Raytheon to do the same," said Mike Bostic of Raytheon. "It’s near and dear to my heart. Widows & Orphans, the firefighters, it doesn’t get any better a cause than that."
Brad Barret from American Financial Network added "I grew up with a lot of guys at 87s, so I know that a lot of firefighter families are supported by the Widows & Orphans Fund. The fact that I can even be close to being a sponsor . . . I’m very grateful.
Prior to heading off to the course, the attendees gathered to see one of the brand new events at this year's tournament: a Golf Ball Drop. Far more exciting than your average raffle, contributors purchased numbered golf balls in an attempt to win one of three fantastic prizes: an iPad 2, a 55" HDTV, or a cash prize of $2500. At 9:30 AM sharp, all of the purchased balls were dumped onto the green from the top of Truck 88’s aerial. The first, second, and third balls in and/or closest to the hole were the winners.
- 1st Place - $2,500 Cash - Beth Ryan (Ball #291)
- 2nd Place - 55" HDTV - Adela & Joseph Angiuli (Ball #1337)
- 3rd Place - Apple iPad 2 - John Ware (Ball #1117)
With a shotgun start, everyone was out on the course playing in no time. The tournament itself was a golf scramble, meaning that each team played from the best shot among their team members. This is a popular choice for tournament play, and everyone did seem to have a lot of fun regardless of their skill level as a golfer. In fact, poor shots seemed to be more of a source of amusement than stress throughout the day. Mike Bostic stated that "we had 12 players here today. I think we had two that play golf and the rest of us that hack around the course, trimming the trees and the bushes." And one of the most memorable quotes heard on the course was "That is the pinecone I was aiming for."
There were several challenge holes for players to test their skill. In addition to the Hole-In-One Harley, Vista Ford offered up a Hole-In-One Car: a Ford Mustang in fire engine red. No one managed to snag either of those prizes, but they certainly put forth their best efforts. Teams also competed to win several different challenges. Jessica from Pin-Up Golf said that she "met a lot of nice people, great golfers" while overseeing the "Hustle Hole" in which every member of the team would work together to get the ball into the hole as quickly as possible. The winning team had a very impressive time of 16 seconds. Another hole, "Guess the Distance," had players estimating how far they would hit the ball before teeing off.
A long day of golf can certainly work up an appetite, which made the truck from In-N-Out a hot stop for lunch during the afternoon. Back by popular demand for a second year, the iconic SoCal burger chain served up burgers delicious enough to remind everyone why they have an almost cult following. Also on refreshment duty was a golf cart that had been customized to look like a fire truck. The cart delivered beverages to the teams around the course, occasionally demonstrating the fully-functional siren.
The auctions held later in the day were another popular event, with a wide variety of items to choose from. The silent auctions boasted more than 100 lots available, from kid's books to concert tickets. There were some impressive selections in the live auction as well, including a guitar signed by Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora. However, the hottest item of the night was a ten-day vacation in Hawaii which even included the airfare. The bidding was fierce, with the final total reaching an impressive $3700. This was thanks in no small part to the enthusiasm of auctioneer Shawn Parr, who kept the crowd revved up and the bids coming in. The silent auction and live auction together raised over $17,000 for the Widows, Orphans and Disabled Firemen's Fund.
The live auction was held during the awards dinner, which was sponsored by the Ben B. & Joyce E. Eisenberg Foundation. "Joyce Eisenberg, my wife, has been involved with the Firemen’s Fund for . . . at least seven years," said Mel Keefer of the Eisenberg Foundation. "We have funded the dinner for this evening. We have great warm feeling for firemen and the fire department and that’s why we’re involved." With Chief Steve Ruda serving as MC and the excitement of the live auction, it was a fun affair and a nice wrap-up for the event.
All in all, the day was a rousing success, with everyone having a great time while raising money for a great cause. The funds raised for the Widows, Orphans and Disabled Firemen's Fund at this year's LAFD Invitational exceeded the totals from the last few tournaments. Hopefully next year, we'll see even more golfers come out to enjoy the tournament. After all, when playing to benefit a charity, doesn't everybody win?
Tournament Results:
1st Place
- Brad Barrett
- Brett Ellen
- Charles Simpson
- John Jacobsen
2nd Place
- Joe Castro
- Dan Desollar
- Andy Jansen
- Lou LaRouche
3rd Place
- Rodney Felix
- Dennis Mendenhall
- ike Radomski
- Dennis Robertson
4th Place
- John Davis
- Scott Gribbons
- David McWhorter
- Larry Metz
Long Drive - Steve Robinson
Closest to the Pin - Brad Barrett
Putting Contest - Brett Ellen
Guess the Distance - Andrew Burphy
Worst Shot! - Mel Keefer
Hustle Hole
- Brian Smith
- Andy Ruiz
- Craig Poulson
- Dae Ho Moon
& Harley Davidson group