The Mayor\u2019s Golf Tournament at Deerhurst Resort on September 23 raised thousands for four local sport charities: Dara Howell\u2019s Women into Sport Fund, the Canadian Tire JumpStart Program, the Huntsville Curling Club Building Foundation, and Ironman Muskoka.<\/p>\n
With the money from the tournament we\u2019ll be able to help another 200 kids in this area (throught the Canadian Tire JumpStart Program). That\u2019s amazing.Mayor Scott Aitchison<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
“We\u2019ve been working on a theme of active, healthy lives, particularly related to youth,” said Mayor Scott Aitchison. “I\u2019ve spent a lot of time engaging young people in what\u2019s going on at town hall through the youth council and my decorate the mayor\u2019s office art contest. It seemed like a great fit to support these charities \u2013 the Dara Howell Women Into Sport Fund does a great job of inspiring young women and the Canadian Tire JumpStart program has helped more than 1700 kids in Muskoka get involved in sport. We figure that with the money from the tournament we\u2019ll be able to help another 200 kids in this area. That\u2019s amazing.”<\/p>\n
<\/broadstreet-zone><\/strong><\/div>\n \u201cThe tournament went extremely well,\u201d said event organizer, Myke Malone. \u201cWe won\u2019t have a final fundraising total until next week but I think we\u2019ll come in at over $25,000.\u201d A portion of the funds raised will offset costs related to Ironman Muskoka with the remaining going to the other charities.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe tried to make it about more than just the golf with interactive fun on each hole,\u201d said Malone. \u201cPeople said it made for a really fun day on the course.\u201d<\/p>\n
Many of the holes had interactive contests including a \u2018Golfing in the Eyes of a Senior\u2019 hole sponsored by Chartwell \u2013 players had to wear an oversized jacket, bulky gloves and vision-impairing glasses. Prizes were awarded for longest men\u2019s and women\u2019s drives with those impairments.<\/p>\n
Hutcheson Sand and Gravel sponsored a \u2018closest to the sand trap\u2019 hole. And title sponsor Devonleigh Homes brought Big Blue Air \u2013 their shuttle-service helicopter \u2013 and collected bids on a helicopter tour of Lake of Bays. The winning bid by Kris House was $1200.<\/p>\n
“I didn\u2019t play very well,” laughed Aitchison, “but it was a treat for me to be able to thank the sponsors personally and publicly. I appreciate their support of me and the tournament and the cause. All of them are corporate citizens who do lots of good things in the community.”<\/p>\n\n\t\t