The Golf for Kids: A challenge for a Cause
By Lino Caringal, Jr.
The Grand Golf Challenge for Kids tournament was successfully conducted on October 20, 2012, Saturday at Green River Golf Course in Corona, California. The Original Urdanetanians (TOU) officers, advisers ans some members attended the kick-off ceremonies at 8:00 am. It was a shot-gun start, wherein golfers in carts go to their assigned starting holes to complete their round of golf. A 'round' typically consisted of 18 holes that were played in the order determined by the course layout and tournament director. On this standard course of 18 holes, each hole was played once in the round to determine the winners.
The Golf for Kids was a challenge, but a rewarding display of top sportsmanship during the tournament. Most importantly, it has intrinsically created in the players' mind-set that they have embarked on a cause-oriented fund raising event, the outcome of which impacts the kids, especially those from 6th to 12th grade.
TOU launched the Grand Golf challenge for Kids to bolster its finances for its current crop of scholars for 2012 and the coming year. Normally, the projects being adopted by TOU are trips to casino and popularity contest on a biennial period. All of these require maximum participation by its members to assure a good cash flow after their completion. The revenue generated varies and depends primarily on commitments by everyone. The Golf for Kids was launched to get the best of both traditional projects in fund raising. It had a shorter time to campaign than the pageant and it had high returns. There was a big factor of good networking with existing golf clubs throughout Southern California. The Winners Circle Golf Club, 2000 Golf Club and several private golfing groups from various counties had come to support the event. The sponsors and donors wholeheartedly threw out their support as well.
A total of 79 avid players took time off from every day chores to have fun under the California sun and to vie for major top prizes and unique raffle prizes prepared by the Golf board. These players came from various major Filipino golfing clubs in Los Angeles, Orange County, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. The board also invited players as far as Northern California and San Diego. Among the winners were Caloy Mamaradlo, 1st place, Bernie Claudio and Lino Caringal, Jr, for closest to the pin.
The observance of etiquette was the call of the day as all players applied it to safety, fairness and pace of play. Though there were no penalties for breach of etiquette rules, our players generally followed the rules of golf etiquette in an effort to improve everyone's playing experience. That was even more enhanced as players aimed for accuracy and consistency over pure distance in hitting their golf balls.
Green River Golf Club allowed the players to discover a beautiful course that captured the breathtaking views of the Santa Ana Canyons. Conveniently located in Corona, California off the 91 Freeway in the Tri–county area of San Bernardino, Riverside & Orange Counties, Green River Golf Club was the perfect place to host the Golf for Kids tournament. Our banquet venue, The Veranda at Green River that can accommodate up to 400 guests had its dedicated and professional staff helped the board plan the hosting of the Golf for Kids tournament.
The sponsors whose involvement made this year’s event extra special were Platinum sponsors; Samson Li, Jeunesse Global, Joe Fahmy, CEO Voiceplate and Angelito Cadiente, CEO, Grace Home Health Care, Inc., Prize sponsors; Dr Tess Pabalan and JCC Group, Inc., Atty. Cris de la Cruz, CEO, Tee sponsors; ECF Ferrer Custom House Broker, Inc., Eddie Ferrer, Chairman, Pangasinan Brotherhood-USA, Eddie Ferrer, President,
All ready to go to the gold course!
Kudos to all the organizers, participants, sponsors, and donors.
All ready to go to the gold course!
Sports
Mario Mateo, UCHS '65
Section Editor
A Glimpse of Ice Hockey... (From page 6)
Moments of euphoria is a very much a part of hockey life. When a child put the puck in the net, a paroxysm of excitement and a thunderous sound of “he scored!" resonates all over the arena. There are also times, when parents become extremely passionate and temperamental, as a result of disapproval for whatever reason, against the parents of the opposing team. Is it also a part of the game? Yes tempers flare but at the end of the game, tempers dissipate. Another plausible Canadian attribute.
There is also the joy of being a hockey dad. In hockey terms, there is the so called "bonding/socializing" with the other parents. It includes car pooling during practices and games.
In a nutshell a hockey dad is a part of being a proud Canadian, c'est la vie!
Philippine Military Academy Alumni Association, Caremax RM Corporation, , Rudy Maluyo President, Mauricio Rayco, UP Tau Rho Xi Fraternity Alumni, Robert Bruce, President, Cavaliers Insurance Marketing, Edna Briggs, Lyoness America, Dom de la Cruz, Chairman, Community Relations, Pangasinan Brothehood-USA, Inc., Amando Papilla, Adviser, The Original Urdanetanians, Bernie Vilano, Amberwood Real Estate, Inc., Norma Torres Agulo, The Urdaneta Voice, Central California, Lenni Echalas Rebudal & Flor Bachiller Vice-Presidents, The Original Urdanetanians, Maj. Gen. Jesus Fajardo, AFP (ret.), UCHS Class 73 (1), UCHS Class 73 (2), UCHS Class 73 (3), Law Office of F. Antonio F. Chavez, UP Tau Rho Xi Fraternity Alumni, UCHS Class 1965, UP Tau Rho Xi Fraternity Alumni, Dr. Jose Regullano, Engr. Ric Almonte, Reddy Unas, Lino Caringal, Jr., Alfredo Benito, UCHS Class ’66, Carmelita Mapoy, Fe Gonzales Sepulveda, Nelia Javonillo, Law Office of Julieta Arreola Unas and Oscar de la Cruz.
The donors for the raffle during the awarding banquet were: Mario Mateo, Caloy Mamaradlo, Nick and Edith Sison, Buena Lizardo, Carlos Valle, Herman Tabayoyong, Jaime Calacsan, Dino Calvero, Gus Castillo, Danny Calacsan, Tito San Juan, Art Guevara, Nick Sanchez, Arthur Castillo, Eva Mateo and Lillyfina Mateo Bartoli.
The TOU board formed the Golf board as project managers. The Golf for Kids was a huge success mainly through the untiring and uncompromising efforts and dedication to the call duty of all members of the golf board. The Golf board was composed of the following: Mario Mateo, Lino Caringal, Jr., Nick Sanchez, Caloy Mamaradlo, Carlos Lito Calacsan, Art Guevara, Tito San Juan, Jaime Calacsan, Gus Castillo, Manny Ballesteros and Joe Cortez. These well-meaning gentlemen had experience in the sporting world of golf. They were a collective gem of stars in the field of organization and support. They knew what the situation was, their mission, what logistics were needed, how to execute and how to communicate and coordinate with all parties involved in the event.
The Golf for Kids was a challenge for all of us. It has allowed us to harness all available human and material resources to make it succeed. Along the way, we made some mistakes, but adjusted and got our bearings back. The most important thing that we learned in this challenge was never to give up, and not stop believing. After all, we still believe that it is not the number of times you fall that matters.
All ready to go to the golf course!
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