South Florida Club Managers Golf Tourney Raises $550,000 for Children's Charities

BOCA RATON, Fla, August 22, 2014 (Newswire.com) - Florida’s Seminole Region of the CMAA (Club Managers Association of America) recently held the 24th Annual Best Ball Golf Tournament at Boca West Country Club. The event raised $550,000, of which 26% (approximately $145,000) was donated by Marathon Golf teams representing country club communities throughout Palm Beach County that began playing in May. This is the fourth year that Marathon Golf has been part of the Best Ball Tournament, which was highlighted by a glittering gala at Boca West.  Over 800 people celebrated “The British Invasion” with a live Rolling Stones/Beatles cover band, silent and live auctions and never-ending presentations of gourmet cuisine. 

Since the event has minimal overhead, virtually all of the proceeds go directly to South Florida Chapters of Toys for Tots, The Special Olympics, SOS Children’s Villages, The George Snow Scholarship Fund, The Unicorn Children’s Foundation, Florence Fuller Child Development Centers and The First Tee of the Palm Beaches. 

This money goes to some of the most worthwhile children's charities in the area, and we want to help the sport of golf remain the single largest charitable contributor in the country.

Jay DiPietro, Tournament Chairman, Manager of Boca West Country Club

Jay DiPietro, tournament chairman and manager of Boca West Country Club, noted, “This money goes to some of the most worthwhile children’s charities in the area, and we want to help the sport of golf remain the single largest charitable contributor in the country. The objective with this event is to make a dramatic difference in the lives of thousands of children in need through our beneficiaries. We always strive to surpass the funds raised the previous year. Next year will be no exception.”

“This is the 20th year that Boca West has donated their facilities for the event, and we are eternally grateful to the staff and residents,” DiPietro added.  “I would also like to recognize the amazing generosity of some of our highest-level contributors including Cheney Brothers, Sysco Southeast Florida, John Deere Golf, Daniel Events and Republic National Distributing Company.”

“We couldn’t be happier with the overall results of this amazing tournament. However, next year, we hope to raise the total figure with at least $250,000 coming from Marathon Golf,” noted Gary Collins, tournament committee member and club manager at Frenchman’s Reserve. “Our teams were relentless. Many individual members were golfing into the night with flashlights, with some playing upwards of 200 holes! All told, our teams combined played nearly 1,750 holes of golf.”

Established in 1927, the CMAA is the oldest association for the club management profession, with over 7,000 members representing virtually every kind of club, from golf and tennis to yachting, beach, social and military. In the Florida Chapter, all five regions hold fund-raising tournaments. The Seminole Chapter, from Vero Beach to the Keys, is the largest of the five.

For information call Darlene Wright at Boca West Country Club 561-488-6990.  If your club or organization has any interest in participating in Marathon Golf, call Gary Collins at 561-261-3554.