4 Gal Best Shot Outing draws 60 players

Is there a better way to spend a sweltering July day other than golfing at the local course? Why, sure: golfing with 59 of your girlfriends.

 

That's just what Penny Hagen coordinated at Riverview Golf Course on Wednesday, July 15. The 80-acre course saw 15 teams of four ladies each, gathered to play at the 4 Gal Best Shot Outing, starting at 9 a.m. with a shotgun start. The ladies played until around 3 p.m. to find out which teams would win various prizes.

 

According to the ladies, they were all having a good time. They had no reason not to; it was a beautiful, sunny day among friends. If that weren't enough to fill their cup of happiness, Sheri Donovan and Ginger Tune had spent days dolling up a pink golf cart with fringe and frills, with which they brought beverages ranging from lemonade to hard seltzer in iced coolers to thirsty golfers.

 

Many other volunteers pitched in to make Saturday's event happen. Volunteers were needed to advertise the event, to help with registration, to serve food, etc. 

 

Annette Strenge assembled the flyer advertising the event. Laura Hagen

and Sandy Waldstrom got, per Hagen, “a ton of donations.”

The donations came from area businesses, who were happy to donate numerous prizes for the event, including Brenda Routh Insurance Agency, First Impressions, Hope Creamery, Stacey Blouin Massage, Wagner Foods, the Willows, RJ's on 5th Ave. Bar & Grill, Steve's Meat Market, Two Doves Boutique, Faribault Golf Club, and several others. 

 

Hole sponsors donated items and cash for longest drive, closest to pin, and closest to the line.

 

In addition, there was a 50/50 raffle and door prizes. The ladies brought in “gently used” golf clothing to sell, the proceeds from which went into drawings. The Lady Bug Thrift Shop, which donated some of the prizes, also donated clothing items to raise money for the drawings. 

 

Because no party is complete without food, the golfers brought in breakfast treats, such as muffins and protein snacks, as well as various types of bars.

 

Lunch at the conclusion of the match was served by another group of volunteers: Janice Jensen, Allie Larson, Cheryl Peterson, and Snooky Hagen. They gather each week to play cards at the golf course, sometimes for several hours. On Wednesday, they played cards and volunteered to serve lunch.

 

Although this is the first ladies' golf tournament in 17 years, the ladies otherwise meet weekly to play golf. It is a tradition that began when Kay and Darlene Miller started golfing on Wednesday mornings. Darlene decided to call Hagen and several other retired individuals who wanted to golf. “They were the initial pioneers,” said Hagen, “and now I think I have 40 people on my call list.” It falls to Hagen to let the others know whether the outing is happening or not, depending on the weather.

 

One member of the original group, Kay Miller, passed away recently. The entire group sent flowers to the funeral and a sum of money for a memorial.

 

Of the Wednesday morning meet-ups, Hagen said, “It's social, it's fun. Nobody cares how anybody does on normal Wednesdays.”

 

“Today, of course, everybody wants to win,” Hagen adds.

 

The group had talked about organizing a tournament all last summer, an event which never came to fruition. When golfing season started again this spring, Hagen said, “We really need to do this.” The rest of the ladies agreed. Hagen drew up a list of requirements to organize the event, including all of the volunteers needed. “The ladies were very generous,” she said.

 

One of the ladies playing on Wednesday was Gretchen Supalla, whose in-laws, Laurence and Irene Supalla, once farmed the 80-acre expanse where the Riverview Golf Course now resides. “That number nine whole is where I'd get stuck all the time with the tractor. I was glad to get rid of it,” Supalla joked.

 

“I think the first golf team would have been '89 graduates,” Supalla continued.

 

The Riverview Golf Course has been in existence since 1987, and it brings people from all over to play. The tournament on Wednesday saw individuals from several different towns, including New Richland, Albert Lea, and Waseca. 

 

Lori Kindschy, Kris Streightiff, Darcy Lee and Cindy Bennett came from Hayfield to play; they play at a different golf course each week. When Brenda Sammon told them about the 4 Gal Best Shot Outing, it fit right in with their plans. This was their first visit to Riverview Golf Course, and they say they'll definitely be back.

 

According to Hagen, the plan is to make the 4 Gal Best Shot Outing a yearly event. Let's hope the weather is as beautiful next year as it was on Wednesday.