Upcoming Area Golf Tourneys Raise Money For Good Causes

By Matt Wiley

While golf is usually seen as a leisurely activity, it also can be a productive way to raise funds for causes that can have direct benefits right here in our area. Three upcoming tournaments in New Tampa seek to do just that.

‘Trick’s Kicks’ Raising Funds At Heritage Isles 

In memory of Hunter’s Green resident Patrick Strom, the inaugural “Trick’s Kicks Golf Tournament” will be held at Heritage Isles Country Club (located at 10630 Plantation Bay Dr. off Cross Creek Blvd.) on Saturday, October 18. The tournament is working to raise money to purchase and donate quality sneakers (“kicks”) to less-fortunate kids in the Tampa Bay area. 

Patrick (who was called “Trick” for short) was a Wharton High grad who was tragically killed in a single-vehicle car accident in June in Hunter’s Green. Since then, the Strom family and their friends and supporters have started a nonprofit organization to give back to the community with one of Patrick’s favorite hobbies, collecting athletic shoes.

Back in April, Trick’s Kicks donated more than $1,200 in the form of 28 pairs of current-style Nike athletic shoes to the children of Everyday Blessings, Inc., a foster residence that takes care of kids from newborn to 17 years old from all economic backgrounds and ethnic groups, who have been displaced from their previous home due to abuse, neglect or abandonment. Everyday Blessings is one of few such residences that houses siblings together.

Proceeds from the golf tournament will go toward purchasing more sneakers to donate to more kids in need. A $100 donation to play in the tournament covers greens fees, golf cart, range balls and lunch. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. the day of the tournament, with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. There also will be a raffle. The tournament has a long list of sponsors (see ad on page 49), including this publication, although the major sponsors include ZimaGear, Mojo Studios, MediaLab, Lisa Strom & Gulfshore Sports.

For more information, please visit TricksKicks.com. — MW

8th Annual Tampa Fisher House Golf Classic 

This is the eighth year my dear fried Valerie Casey is putting on a charity golf tournament to benefit the Tampa Fisher House, the residence on the campus of the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. (south of E. Fletcher Ave.) which houses (for no charge) the families and significant others of the wounded veterans being treated  at the hospital.

Valerie and her committee, led by her fellow New Tampa Noon Rotarian Barry Shuman, invite you to join them for a day of great food and golf on Friday, October 24, at Pebble Creek Golf Club (10550 Regents Park. Dr., off BBD).

The entry fee donation of $125 per player includes a delicious lunch, provided by the Little Greek restaurant on BBD (next to Publix in the New Tampa Center), greens fees, golf cart, “goody” bags, multiple prizes for top teams, putters and drivers, and the opportunity to win some great silent auction prizes. Lunch & registration begin at 11:30, with the shotgun start at 12:30.

For more info, email Valerie at ValCasey3@aol.com or call Barry Shuman at (516) 523-2678. For info about the Tampa Fisher House, visit FisherHouse.org. — GN

Wharton Baseball Trades Bats For Golf Clubs

Also for the past eight years, the Paul R. Wharton High baseball team has hosted a golf tournament to help make some much-needed repairs to the school’s baseball facility, and this year is no exception.

The tournament will be held on Saturday, December 13, at Pebble Creek Golf Club (located at 10550 Regents Park Dr.). Although still a few months away, the team is hoping that the announcement will allow those interested to sign up, sponsor the tournament or donate items for a raffle that will be held the day of the outing.

“Any tax-deductible gift donation from businesses would be greatly appreciated,” says Wharton baseball head coach Scott Hoffman. “We have several projects that need to be completed this year that will (total) more than $10,000.”

Among those projects are replacing netting and making fence adjustments on the fields. The money also goes towards the upkeep of the dugouts and press box, as well as helping to pay for uniforms.

Single players and foursomes are welcome to play. The cost is $85 per golfer, which includes lunch. For more info, call Tony Cotoia at 546-9696.