UCP Golf Scramble 2008 a big success
Golfers got into the swing at United Cerebral Palsy of Minnesota’s (UCPM) 12th Annual Golf Scramble July 21, at the Oak Marsh Golf Course in Oakdale. While having fun in the hot sun the participants raised money to help people with Cerebral Palsy (CP), and the weather cooperated with sunny skies. UCPM supporters have declared the event a resounding success.
Cerebral Palsy is a lifelong condition caused by a trauma to the brain generally occurring prior to, during or shortly after birth. It is not a disease. Therapy and/or medical interventions and assistive technology may help improve an individual’s quality of life. This information is from the UCPM website: www.ucpmn. org. The theme on the United Cerebral Palsy of Minnesota website is “Life without limits for people with disabilities.”
The golfing commenced at noon with a shotgun start. Each golf team began the tournament with a pink golf ball, called a pink lady. Golfers were supposed to keep the pink lady in play as long as possible. Debby Gustafson confessed that her team lost their pink lady on the first hole. Despite that loss, Gustafson said she always has fun at the scramble, adding “How can you go wrong with golf?” Gustafson and her company, Twin Cities Metro CDC, have sponsored the UCPM event for five years.
Gustafson also won a golf shirt at the Access Press golf hole, because she had the closest guess for how many pieces of candy were in a bowl. (She guessed 63 pieces and there were 64.) Each golf hole had a fun activity and there were contests and awards for longest drive, closest to pin and longest putt. First, second and third place teams received awards. Golfers also enjoyed a silent auction which featured sports memorabilia. Dale Findlay, an individual with CP, has volunteered on the course games for 12 years.
About 70 golfers participated in this year’s event. UCPM Board Member Tim Hanson played on a team with his wife Darcy. Their son Adam, who has CP, enjoyed watching the tournament from his front-row seat in the golf cart.
Hala Sonbol was a hostess at the Access Press golf hole. She has CP, and this was her first UCPM event. Sonbol enjoyed the day, although she felt disappointed that she didn’t see any golfers with disabilities.
A UCPM spokesperson said they welcome all golfers; in fact they would love to see more people participating. The UCPM organizers invited the Sister Kenny golf program for people with disabilities, but haven’t gotten any responders yet.
In the evening UCPM held a banquet at the Oak Marsh facility. The guests enjoyed an Italian buffet dinner. A couple of UCPM Board members made brief comments at the banquet. Tim Hanson spoke about what CP is and how it affects people.
Mike Stephenson, UPCM Board member and Chair of the Golf Committee, thanked everyone for coming. Stephen-son has been on the UCPM Board for five years. He has CP and uses a communication device. Stephenson says about the golf tournament. “I think the number one thing we did that day was to raise money to help people with CP.” For example, the UCP Minnesota Assistive Technology Loan Network (MATLN) lends communication devices to anyone who is nonverbal.
To learn more about United Cerebral Palsy and the Golf Scramble: www.ucpmn.org
