By Jessica Isaacs | jessica@highcountrypress.com
Several of the High Country’s most exclusive country clubs will open their doors for charity golf tournaments this fall, which will raise funds to support local nonprofit organizations and will give golf enthusiasts a chance to play on these coveted courses.
Tournaments in September and October take advantage of the area’s beautiful fall weather and offer participants the opportunity to play a few rounds for a good cause. This year, tournaments are lined up at the premier courses of Elk River Club, the Blowing Rock Country Club, Linville Ridge Country Club and Grandfather Golf and Country Club.
“Tournaments this time of year are really good for several things. For one, the weather is cool and you start to get the color changing in the leaves. People like to come to the mountains in the fall,” said Allen Bolick, a Banner Elk town councilman and chairperson of the annual Historic Banner Elk School Golf Tournament. “Some come up to spend a weekend in the mountains and play golf on Monday. It’s just a good time. It’s good for the courses, too, because some of their members who play in the summer months are going home by then.”
Participants enjoy playing on these high-end, designer courses at affordable rates, and can rest assured that their contributions are making a difference in the High Country.
“It’s really an inexpensive price, and most of the time you can’t even get on these courses unless you’re a member,” said Gwen Dingh, owner of Makoto’s Japanese Restaurant and coordinator of the tournament hosted by Makoto’s and The Rock, which supports Blowing Rock CARES. “People who play golf really like to join these tournaments because it’s a fun, festive day, you’re all outside having a good time together and it’s really nice to be out here in the fall.
Each tournament is made possible by a variety of corporate sponsors, including SkyLine/SkyBest and Carolina West Wireless, both of which sponsor several tournaments and other local fundraising efforts every year.
Read below for more information on upcoming charity golf tournaments and find out how you can get involved.
Second Annual Historic Banner Elk School Golf Tournament
Elk River Club, Mon. Sept. 12
All proceeds to benefit the Historic Banner Elk School Project.
Hosted by the Town of Banner Elk and the Elk River Club
Warm up at 10:30 a.m., check-in from 11 a.m to noon, shotgun start at noon
Luncheon provided by Lowe’s Foods
Prizes for the top four teams, plus a Genesis G80 hole-in-one prize from Friendship Hyundai of Johnson City and on-course contests for men and women
Admission: $175 per player
Other sponsors include: Mayland Community College, Mercedes Benz of South Charlotte, Eagles Nest of Banner Elk, Banner Elk Chamber of Commerce, Banner Elk Winery, Lees-McRae College, Best Western Mountain Lodge, Webb Painting, Fairway Lawn Care, Rotary Club of Avery County, Studio 140 Gallery, the Chef’s Table at Sorrento’s, Quality Electric, Bayou Smokehouse, Stonewalls Restaurant, Sorrento’s Italian Bistro, United Community Bank, IRMO Insurance Agency, Louisiana Purchase, MVB Mortgage, High Country Wealth Management
Registration: No availability. All team spaces have been booked.
Makoto’s/The Rock Charity Golf Tournament
Blowing Rock Country Club, Mon. Sept. 19
All proceeds to benefit Blowing Rock CARES
Hosted by Makoto’s and The Rock
Four-person captain’s choice
Shotgun start 1:30 p.m.
Admission: $125 per person/$500 per team
Entry fee includes green and cart fees, dinner, mulligans, goody bags and prizes
Dinner provided by Sysco Foods of Charlotte
Other sponsors include: Six Pence Pub, Echota, Mast General Store
Hole sponsorships: $100
To register or learn more, contact Makoto’s at 828-264-7976.
25th Annual Last Chance Golf Tournament
Linville Ridge Country Club, Tues. Sept. 27
Hosted by the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce
Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., shotgun start at 10 a.m.
$150 admission includes green fees and lunch
Mulligans and tee busters sold separately at the beginning of the tournament
Corporate challenge prize: $1,200 per team
Other prizes offered
Event sponsors: Skyline/Skybest, Carolina West Wireless, Peabody’s Wine and Beer, Tar Heel Basement Systems, Boone Mall, Ross Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge, Edward Jones Inc.
Contact: Wysteria White, Boone Area Chamber of Commerce, wysteria@boonechamber.com
More information: boonechamber.com
Avery Chamber Golf Classic
Grandfather Golf and Country Club, Tues. Oct 4
Hosted by Avery County Chamber of Commerce
Texas Scramble format
Call to register: 828-898-5605, chamber@averycounty.com
Registration: 7:30-8:45 a.m., shotgun start 9 a.m.
$200 per person or $800 per team
$100 hole sponsorship in honor or in memory
Refreshments and mulligans ($20 each, two per player) available for purchase
Lunch on the grill and awards presentation following play
Hole-in-one prizes on front and back nine from Boone Friendship Honda and High Country Polaris
Event sponsors: Skyline/Skybest, Carolina West Wireless
Contact: Avery Chamber, 4501 Tynecastle Highway Unit 2, Banner Elk
More information: averycounty.com
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