Residents of Lacombe and area can get excited again for an annual golf tournament held to generate donations for the Lacombe Health Trust.
The Lacombe Hospital Charity Golf Classic is a fun day outdoors that allows patrons to enjoy themselves on the greens as they show their support for the Lacombe Health Trust initiatives, organizers say.
“We’re trying to make this a fun event, not a skill tournament, so we’ll have mulligans in place, we’ll give out badges to the golfers – the last person who hits a ball in the water will get a badge with their name and can draw for a water prize,” said Lacombe Health Trust Chair Jim Dixon Jr.
“There’s also a badge for the last person to hit a tree, and they can have a consolation prize.”
These games and prizes are meant to generate a fun, relaxed atmosphere at the event.
There will be some serious golf, but people should not feel hesitant to enjoy the day if they aren’t great golfers, he said.
For $175, ($150 early bird registration price), golfers will receive a golf cart, breakfast, appetizers and a rib dinner.
Early bird registration ends on May 15th, with the tournament taking place on June 11th.
All proceeds collected will head directly to the Lacombe Health Trust, which covers exclusively initiatives that will benefit the Lacombe Hospital.
“This year we’re hoping to raise enough money to purchase three patient bath lifts which are used for transferring patients. They are also good for the staff because it cuts down on injuries and strains,” said Tournament Coordinator Sherri O’Muir.
The Lacombe Health Trust is a non-profit charity that spends funds on the hospital.
In the past, they have successfully raised enough money to purchase a new operating room table, electric beds and a portable ultrasound machine for the emergency room that replaced the cranks.
To add a little more colour to the event, program coordinators and committee members have decided to add some variation on the festivities.
O’Muir added, “For one, you can play on a team. So, if you aren’t necessarily that good of a golfer, the other people on your team will help you out.”
However fun the event is, the ideas behind it are better.
“The money goes to the Lacombe Health Trust,” said O’Muir.
“The Health Trust mandate and mission is to do things for the hospital. All of the money will be spent here in Lacombe at the hospital, although it doesn’t go directly to them.”
Some new things this year will be the inclusion of introduction of games such as ‘Survivor’ and ‘Gruesome.’
In Survivor, after each hole, someone is voted off the green until one person emerges victorious.
Gruesome means having players use their worst shots, instead of best for each hole.
“Golfers will use their worst shot on every hole instead of their best. It might make the hole pretty long but it’ll be pretty fun,” said Dixon Jr.
There is still room to register, and those wishing to join can contact the David Thompson Health Trust (Lacombe Health Trust) at 403-342-8665. Information about registration can also be collected through via email at LH.charitygolfclassic@gmail.com, or online registration can take place atwww.lacombehealthtrust.com/golf.