By Brother Matt Hughey
On May 31, a beautiful summer-like day at the Robert Trent Jones designed golf course the House on the Rock Resort in Spring Green, 19 golfers convened to participate in the inaugural Grand Master’s Open Charity Golf Outing supporting then Grand Master David R. Ritchie’s chosen charity for his term – the Children’s Dyslexia Centers in the Scottish Rite Valleys of Eau Claire, Madison, and Milwaukee – AASR-NMJ. Pictured above, Tyler Steiber tees off on number eight during the Grand Master’s Open Charity Golf Outing.
As golfers registered for the event, a four-person mixed gender scramble, their attention was drawn to the Roderick Anderson putting contest at the putting green. Each Golfer, for a nominal donation, attempted to sink puts from ever increasing distances, the longest put receiving $100. Grand Treasurer Paul T. Tourville, PGM, sinking a putt from 18 feet, claimed the top prize, which he generously donated back to the cause.
Golfers teed off in 10-minute intervals, the first foursome led by our GM Richie’s foursome.
All four par three holes for the event were sponsored by Ewald Automotive, with the top prize of $20k towards a vehicle, on the challenging 180-yard Hole #7. Don Komplin, our spotter, confirmed that not only did none of the participants get a hole-in-one, but also that none of the participants hit the green. The prizes on the other three par threes went unclaimed.
At the end of the round, the participants enjoyed burgers, hot dogs, pasta salad & cookies as they waited for the winners – team, closest to the pin, longest drives for men, women, and seniors, and the raffle prizes – a handful of golf equipment to be drawn. With a score of 7 under par, Grand Treasurer Paul T. Tourville, PGM; Peter Tourville; Kevin Gruber; and Jerry Reick won pro shop certificates. Paul also won the 50/50 Raffle, which, like the putting contest prize, he donated back to the Wisconsin Masonic Foundation for the CDCs.
The event, after paying for golf course fees, food & beverage, and prizes, netted approximately $2,500 for the CDCs. This amount is to be added to the funds previously received by the Wisconsin Masonic Foundation – Acts of Kindness from Grand Master Ritchie’s Appeal for distribution to the Centers.
This event could not have happened without the generosity of many folks. Sincere, heartfelt thank yous go out to the following:
• The House on the Rock Resort Head Golf Pro Justin Bombkamp & the House on the Rock Resort Staff, for working with us to make this event possible & profitable for the CDCs;
• The Wisconsin Masonic Foundation – Acts of Kindness, for managing the receipts & disbursements for the event;
• Tom Ewald & Angela Scharnell of Ewald Automotive, for the hole-in-one prizes on all par threes;
• The Scottish Rite Valleys of Madison & Milwaukee, for generously donating funds for raffle prizes;
• Nevada Bob’s of Madison, for giving a significant charitable discount on the raffle prizes;
• Don Komplin, for being our hole-in-one spotter on Hole #7;
• Anne Hughey & Julie Thompson, who unselfishly gave their time to help us get the event organized and register participants; and
• The Golf Participants, for your time and willingness to take a Friday off to play golf and help raise funds for & support of the Children’s Dyslexia Centers of Wisconsin
The 2024 GMO Charity Golf Outing was, without question, a good time for a GREAT cause – The Children’s Dyslexia Centers of Wisconsin.
