Golfers Needed as Marathon Golf Kicks Off CMAA's 2015 Children's Charity Golf Tourney

Boca Raton, FL, April 30, 2015 (Newswire.com) - South Florida golfers are at it again…playing “Fore the Community!” For 25 years, Florida’s Seminole Region of the Club Managers’ Association of America (CMAA) has held their annual “Best Ball Charity Golf Tournament” raising millions of dollars for children’s charities throughout South Florida. And for the past four years, “Marathon Golf” has been an integral part of its success. Just last year alone, Marathon Golf raised $144,000 of the tournament’s $575,000 grand total. The concept is simple: golfers team up to play as many holes as possible in one day, having generated pledges for each hole played.  This year, the team from Ibis Golf and Country Club kicked off the marathon at their home course on Wednesday, April 22nd, playing a total of 288 holes during 12+ hours of play. All told, fifteen Marathon Golf teams will continue through May at nine participating clubs.  The entire event culminates with the Best Ball Tournament and grand gala at Boca West Country Club in the beginning of June.

Gary Collins, Marathon Golf committee chair noted that this year’s goal is for Marathon Golf alone to raise at least $200,000. To do that, he is asking that more golfers join the fun.

This is one of golf's most 'unconventional' events. Yes, we follow basic scoring rules. But that's where the rules stop! As long as someone doesn't pick up their ball and throw it, we're good to go," Collins chuckled. "It's all about having fun and raising as much money as possible. And just for the record, you could be the absolute worst golfer in the county. No one cares! As long as you tee off and sink the putts, that's good enough!

Gary Collins, Tournament Chair

“This is one of golf’s most ‘unconventional’ events.  Yes, we follow basic scoring rules. But that’s where the rules stop!  As long as someone doesn’t pick up their ball and throw it, we’re good to go,” Collins chuckled.  “It’s all about having fun and raising as much money as possible.  And just for the record, you could be the absolute worst golfer in the county. No one cares!  As long as you tee off and sink the putts, that’s good enough!  We’ve even had people finishing up as many as 200 holes after dark with flashlights! That’s how committed we are to the kids. ” 

At the same time, Jay DiPietro, tournament chairman and general manager of Boca West Country Club added, “The Best Ball tournament is one of the most impressive golf events of its kind with over 400 golfers on three courses. No other one-day tournament has this many participating in a single charity event. Better yet, there is no overhead, not even for the gala. Everything is donated, which means that virtually all proceeds go directly to the charities and the kids.” Beneficiary charities include Toys for Tots, The Special Olympics, SOS Children’s Villages, The George Snow Scholarship Fund, The Unicorn Children’s Foundation, Florence Fuller Child Development Centers, The First Tee Palm Beach/Treasure Coast and Place of Hope.

Collins concluded, “This is one of the most anticipated golf and social events in Palm Beach County. Last year, we hosted a capacity crowd of 800 at the gala celebration.  We had countless people clamoring for tickets who we could not accommodate.  People have to act now in order to reserve their spot at this incredible event. But most importantly, we need more Marathon Golfers and more clubs to participate.  This is the only way we’ll be able to surpass last year’s total.” 

For more information or to sign up your company or club for Marathon Golf, contact Gary Collins at 561-261-3554. To sign up for the June’s Best Ball Tournament contact Darlene Wright at  Boca West Country Club, 561-488-6990.  If you simply wish to make a tax-deductable donation, make check payable to “The Seminole Region Charity Tournament” and send to Gary Collins, Marathon Golf, 5500 Military Trail, #22-261, Jupiter, FL 33458. People whose donations total $100 or more will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a 3-day, 2-night stay at Key Largo’s Ocean Reef Club.