Veterans enjoy a great day of golf
With sunny skies, a warm wind and Mt. Huff as a backdrop it would be very difficult to ask for better conditions as over 30 eager veterans enjoy a round of golf June 24. Photo by Mari Erin Roth
Thirty-two Plumas County veterans signed up for a day of golf, fellowship, food and fun at the 2017 Veterans Golf Tournament held at Mt. Huff Golf Course outside of Crescent Mills.
This annual event is usually held on Memorial Day, but due to winter flood damage, was postponed to June 24 this year.
Besides 18 holes of golf, each veteran also received range balls, a cart and a bag full of tee prizes including a ball cap denoting branch of service, challenge coin, tourney golf balls and other goodies for the day.
After their round of play, the vets returned to a barbeque spread featuring a steak or half-chicken, baked beans, potato and macaroni salad, and there was plenty to go around.
The theme of the day was focused on the idea that veterans should never forget their duty for continued service to the community and fellow veterans.
Speakers from VFW Post 3825 in Quincy and American Legion Post 664 in Chester both explained the need for local veterans to step up and support veteran organizations in their communities.
Tournament Director David Smuts from VFW Post 3825 had nothing but praise for all the sponsors and supporters that donated time and materials to provide a special day for those who have served our country.
The other organizer of the event, Jimmy LaPlante, is also the Plumas County Veterans Service Officer. He offered additional praise for all those that make this day happen each year.
His vision is to see it grow to a point where several tourneys might be held at different courses around the county.
The tournament scramble format is designed to be strictly fun and welcoming for all levels of golfing ability.
In a scramble, two or more players constitute a team with no one keeping individual score.
Each player hits a tee shot on each hole, but everyone plays from the spot of the best shot, usually with certain criteria as to how many each player is accountable for.
Each successive shot, including the putts, are played in the same manner, with the team using the best-shot location to continue until the team holes out.
There were several regular golfers with very respectable handicaps at the tournament and at least one player who hadn’t picked up a club in over 10 years.
At the end of the day, there were cash prizes for the three lowest team scores and tournament door prizes for all.
The unanimous consensus was that all had a great day and many words of thanks were offered to Smuts and LaPlante.
