NORTHFIELD — Local residents will take to the Northfield Golf Club Saturday armed with drivers, putters and the rest of their equipment to benefit children, specifically to raise money for a new playground.
The Swing for the Kids Golf Tournament, now in its second year, is organized by the Northfield Elementary School Parent-Teacher Organization with the goal of raising money for a new playground at the school. The structures on the existing playground, according to PTO Co-Chair Cheryl George, are beginning to crack and fade, being anywhere from 15 to more than 20 years old.
George suspects the equipment will cost roughly $100,000, which she said is the PTO’s end goal. The project may cost less, she said, seeing how since last year’s fundraiser, town voters approved allocating $10,000 toward the project, money that George said will be used to purchase swing sets.
In its first year, the tournament raised $1,700, she said. Because other traditional PTO fundraisers — like Chrysanthemum flower sales in the fall and holiday basket raffles — also support bus transportation for field trips, school supplies, enrichment programs and teacher requests, the PTO has only been able to slot $3,000 for its goal.
“It is a drop in the bucket compared to what we need,” George said.
“We’d like to improve upon what we did last year,” George said of the PTO’s goal for this year’s tournament. “We want to improve every year.”
Given that the number of teams participating has already doubled from last year to 14, George is hopeful for a successful event. She said there is room for four more teams to sign up, with toda, June 23, being the last day to enter.
Registration for the tournament starts at 8 a.m., with the tournament itself kicking off at 9 a.m. Each golfer must pay a $75 entry fee, which includes course fees and access to a golf cart for 18 holes, a T-shirt, coffee and doughnuts, and a barbeque chicken dinner.
The Parent-Teacher Organization is also holding a raffle, with prizes including gift certificates to local businesses like Cameron’s Winery, Mim’s Market and Pioneer Valley Indoor Karting, and passes to Monadnock Speedway.
Local businesses are invited to sponsor the event for $25 or up in exchange for advertising opportunities at the course on the day of the tournament.
Those interested in participating in the tournament should call or text Cheryl George at 413-522-0576 or email northfieldelementarypto@gmail.com. Participants can pay during registration the morning of the tournament by credit or debit card, cash or check.
Reach Shelby Ashline at: sashline@recorder.com
413-772-0261 ext. 257