UDA golf turney shakes weather, raises money

The childhood rhyme was running through my head as our four-man scramble golf team camped out in a cart tunnel. We weren’t the only ones.

Ten golf carts were lined up like cattle, seeking shelter from a June 27 downpour during the fourth-annual Urban Districts Alliance Center City Scramble. After what seemed like three weeks without rain (based on my water bills), lightning and rainstorms cut short the UDA’s afternoon fund-raiser at Springfield Golf and Country Club. We played 12 holes.

What timing! Couldn’t it have rained on any of the 20-some dry days before the tournament? Or the days following, when golfers were grinding away in offices?

For that matter, how about another part of the city? Word spread on the course that center city, which the charity tournament benefited, and Springfield’s south side were bone dry while I was pouring water out of my shoes and wringing my shirt out.

But it didn’t dampen our spirits, or those of the 10 hard-working volunteers. I mean, what a great way to spend a Monday afternoon – playing some golf, eating good food and supporting downtown Springfield, which SBJ calls home. Thanks to Dianne Elizabeth, Springfield Business Journal Publisher, for sponsoring a team and sending me, Ad Manager Mike Noggle and Account Executive Cliff Nurnberg. And thanks to John Ford of Welcome to Springfield magazine for joining SBJ’s squad at the last minute.

About 100 participants came out – names and faces you’d recognize: Eric Piel and Aaron Buerge of First National Bank, Rich Howell of A&B Cycle, Enoch Morris formerly of Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts, Brad Oliver of The Team, downtown developer Craig Waggoner, Steve Williams of Crosstown Barbecue, and UDA board members Tracy Kimberlin of Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau and Mark Harrell of Plaza Realty.

We were all supporting the nonprofit UDA’s work to further downtown business and development. The organization exists to build the economic vitality of center city through various programs and services. For instance, UDA manages ArtsFest, Cider Days, First Night Springfield and Community Improvement District activities, and it also assists in grant writing and city loan administration.

Although the tournament’s final tally was not available at press time, UDA’s Barb Baker said a $6,000 to $7,000 profit is typical.

UDA isn’t the only beneficiary.

“There was a good time had by all, considering the two outbursts of rain. People were very positive and enjoyed the tournament,” Baker said.

Each player received a UDA golf umbrella (which I immediately threw into my car under the sun-filled sky before tee off), a sack lunch from Springfield Brewing Co., dinner from Crosstown Barbecue, goody bag items from Great Southern and Commerce banks, and a copy of Springfield Business Journal.

Don Wessel Oldsmobile-Honda and Ollis & Co. stuck their necks out, offering hole-in-one prizes: a 2005 Honda Accord and $10,000, respectively. Even with hole-in-one fever in the Ozarks (remember the four aces on June 17 at Holiday Hills in Branson and two more June 28 at Rivercut), nobody got lucky this day.

But there were other fun prizes: Casey Holck of the Springfield Family Y team won a driver from Bass Pro Shops for the longest drive; Kent Lammers of the Great Southern team won a $100 gift certificate to Ernie Biggs piano bar in a putting contest; closest to the pin contests earned Scott Roberts of Consumer Credit Counseling Service’s team certificates to Walnut Street Bed and Breakfast and The Tower Club, and won Russ Marquart of Empire Bank’s team certificates to Walnut Street Bed and Breakfast and Springfield Brewing Co.

Great Southern also sponsored the flight prizes.

SBJ’s team even walked away with a third-place score in the second flight, each player receiving a $15 gift certificate to Patton Alley Pub.

Not a bad way to spend a Monday afternoon.

Eric Olson is news editor at Springfield Business Journal.

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