Adam Prudhomme
Editor
Perfect weather, a hole-in-one to win a new car and over $33,000 raised-everything was coming up aces during Lennox and Addington County General Hospital’s 24th Annual Golf Tournament.
As always, the event was held at the Napanee Golf and Country Club.
After the pandemic forced the tournament’s first postponement in 25 years in 2020, golfers returned to modified rules but the same familiar fun. Proceeds from the tournament will allow the hospital to purchase a home cardiac monitor, which is a vital take-home tool that can help diagnose heart conditions.
The success of the event was made possible by local businesses such as tournament sponsor Dillenbeck’s Lawn and Property Maintenance.
“We like to donate back to our community and support our local hospital because everybody at some point is going to need minor care to major care or hospitalization,” said Barb Dillenbeck. “Without the support of the community and sponsorships from different businesses for events like this golf tournament, we don’t know where our hospital would sit financially.”
Adding to the excitement of the tournament’s return was a hole-in-one sank by Mike McGrath, which won him a brand new GMC Terrain SLE from Peter Boyer Chev Buick GMC Ltd. The local car dealership offered up the prize to any golfer who could shoot an ace on the second hole.
Special recognition was given to LACGH Foundation board member Leroy Wannamaker, who founded the tournament 25 years ago.
“I never thought it would last this long,” Wannamaker said.
He recalled starting the tournament at the advice of former Napanee Beaver advertising manager Bob Carruthers. The tournament was an instant success, though it has undergone a few tweaks over the years. In an effort to make the tournament more inviting to novice golfers, it has evolved into a four-person scramble.
“Now we got people golfing here who have never been golfing in their life,” said Wannamaker. “But they have a fun day and enjoy the sociability of it and they help their hospital. What more can you ask for?”
Always a popular event, this year the foundation had to limit the number of participants to about half of what they’d normally host. After missing out on the revenue from the event completely last year, the foundation has had to rely on the generosity of the community to help bridge the gap.
“A lot of charities over the past year with COVID really took a hit,” said Deb Coles, LACGH Foundation treasurer. “We were the opposite. Everybody really stepped up.”
Exact figures are still being calculated from this year’s event. The previous 23 events combined have raised over $704,000 for the hospital.