Are you ready to support local athletics by playing a round of golf? The second annual Kingston Rotary Golf Challenge will be held at the White Horse Golf Course in Kingston on Friday, June 13.
The Kingston-North Kitsap Rotary Club organizes this tournament as a major fundraiser. Proceeds from this year’s tournament will be used to install lights on the new track and playing field at Kingston High School. Rotary members say the community is justly proud of the new high school, but the construction program did not include money to light the field. During the long, dark winter, students must be transported to North Kitsap High School for practice and games. Even the KHS Band needs a place to practice after dark.
Many of the student-athletes participate in after-school activities. Unfortunately, during winter months darkness falls as early as 4 p.m. Students are left with no place to practice or compete. Rotary is urging participation in the “Swing for the Lights” golf tournament. Many local merchants are selling pin-on buttons with the phrase “Got 2 C 2 Play” on them. These buttons are part of the publicity for the Kingston Rotary Golf Challenge. Proceeds from the sale of the buttons go directly toward the field lighting. Kingston Thriftway has been matching all revenue generated from sales of the buttons in their store. Their generous contribution has helped make this button program a big success.
The effort to provide lighting for the KHS athletic field and track is part the Kingston Rotary SPARK campaign. “SPARK” stands for Schools and Parks ARound Kingston. This multiyear campaign is intended to improve appearance, livability and pride in the Kingston community. Last year the Kingston Rotary Golf Challenge raised $10,000 toward the cost of field lighting.
Golfers of all abilities, men and women, are invited to participate in the tournament. The competition will be a “Scramble” with four-person teams. Enter with friends as a team or individually and be assigned to a team. Registrations are now being accepted and available space is expected to fill up quickly. For information about registering, contact Suzanne Jenny at John L. Scott Real Estate, (360) 297-7500.
The cost to play in the golf tournament is $200. Included are green fees, driving range, a bag of tee prizes, golf cart, catered lunch, plus a gala barbeque dinner with prizes and a silent auction following the tournament. Tickets for the awards dinner for non-players can be purchased for $30.
The Kingston Rotary is soliciting local businesses to sponsor the tournament. Sponsors receive publicity on the golf course, in the media and online. Rotary members are currently contacting sponsors of last year’s tournament to give them priority, but there is room for anyone interested. For information about becoming a sponsor, contact Dan Martin at (360) 265-4974.
Guests and prospective members are invited to attend Kingston-North Kitsap Rotary Club luncheon meetings, held at noon in the Kingston Cove Yacht Club every Wednesday, except the first Wednesday of each month when the meeting is at 7 a.m. for breakfast. More information about Rotary and the golf tournament is available at www.kingston-nkrotary.org.
