The third annual Red Rock Values Charity Golf Scramble will return to the Oakcreek Country Club at 690 Bell Rock Road in the Village of Oak Creek at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 21.
Proceeds will benefit the Special Olympics of Arizona and the Verde Valley Habitat for Humanity The deadline for golfers who want to participate and for local businesses that want to sponsor the event is the end of the month.
“Habitat [for] Humanity funds raised from this year’s scramble does go to our home build,” Verde Valley Habitat for Humanity golf event chairwoman Tresa Rose said. “We are building a home right now, in Rimrock, for a wonderful young lady named Mercedes Ibarra who is a single mom with four kids. [She] works full time as a manager of a day-care facility, and also is going to school for early child development … Another [program] a lot of people don’t know about is [that] Verde Habitat has a critical home repair program for seniors and [veterans]. It’s to keep them safe in their home that they already have, a lot of wheelchair ramp bills and other types of repairs.”
The scramble involves teams of four golfers who all hit a ball from the same spot on the course and then select the best-placed ball for the following shot. Event sponsor Mark Hoaglund said that there is currently space left for eight more teams.
“I’m a member at Oakcreek Country Club,” Hoaglund said. “It’s such a variety of players thatget involved in this … Sedona Fire is playing, they’re going to have two teams … There [were] guys [at the country club] that were out of town that just walked up to me and handed me checks and said, ‘Mark, I can’t play but here’s a $200 check.’ The generosity blew me away, I had no idea we’d be able to get to this level.”
Sponsorship opportunities include sponsoring a tent for $895, which includes entry for two golfers; a banner for $225; tee box signs for $120; or a flag and frame for $595.
“[Money from the event] will go to general funds for the Special Olympics of Arizona because normally if we have events [for] fundraising, it’s for a specific event like the Law Enforcement Torch Run or Over the Edge,” Sedona police officer Catherine Beers said. “With the golf tournament, because we’re splitting the funds with [Habitat for Humanity], it goes to general funds. So it’ll be distributed [to] different teams in need throughout Arizona for things [such as] transportation or uniforms.”
The Special Olympics of Arizona is a new beneficiary this year. Another new addition is that sponsors can purchase a flag that will be flown at one of the holes that they can keep after the event.
“Then we’re going to frame [the flags] afterwards,” Hoaglund said. “Because a lot of golfers like [to] have it in their office framed on the wall. It’s $595, a little expensive, but nobody’s balked at it.” Nine holes have been sponsored sofar; the other nine are still up for grabs.
The registration fee is $160 for a single player or $600 for a foursome. Hoaglund said the goodie bags that are included with registration currently include at least $100 worth of items, including gift cards and prizes.
The press release for the event also announced three hole-in-one prizes.
“It’s a good tax writeoff,” Hoaglund said. “But it’s just the right thing to do … I think every citizen that’s able should throw some money towards charities … [Also] Oakcreek Country Club is tranquil, it’s so beautiful. An October day [that’s] 68 degrees and is sunny is the perfect time to come out and say hello and be part of the community.”
Sponsorship opportunities are available until the end of September and registration can be done online at MyAZValues.com.
Verde Valley residents who are interested in playing in the Special Olympics or otherwise looking to support the program can contact Beers at CBeers@sedonaaz.gov.
Hoaglund added that he is also looking for volunteers who wish to help out with the event. Prospective volunteers or sponsors can reach him at (651) 262-4115.
