The grass will indubitably appear greener at the Orcas Island Golf Course this Saturday, Sept. 10, as community members gather to celebrate and support Orcas Center’s cultural contribution to the island.
“You don’t have to be a serious golfer to enjoy the evening,” said Orcas Center’s executive/artistic director Kara O’Toole, saying the day is designed to supply fun for all ages.
Scratch golfers can duke it out during a semi-serious nine-hole morning session; a more playful afternoon nine-hole match invites those likely to lose a few into the shrubbery or water hazards; and those not even remotely interested in trotting around a green while smacking about small white balls can still enjoy a Lower Tavern lunch of juicy pulled pork, burgers, brats and dogs hot off the grill, or an evening ice cream social serenaded by a live performance from OrcaTrazz. A putt-putt course will provide diversion for little ones.
The golf classic is Orcas Center’s second major fundraiser of the year, supplying roughly 18 percent of its annual support.
Asked which session she would be golfing with, O’Toole, a talented dancer, laughed, “I’m not known for my hand-eye coordination, shall we say. I’ll be there to enjoy it.”
As is tradition, the annual event will be packed with plenty of silliness, from costumed characters roaming the greens to playful obstacles added to the golf course, all backdropped by stage pieces from past Orcas Center productions.
In the morning, said Soderlund, “We’ll have some challenges along the way.” Here’s a clue: on hole three golfers can penny up for a chance to shoot at a boat on the pond, winning prizes for a direct hit.
Two beer carts will patrol the course throughout the day. In the afternoon organizers will crank the fun up a notch.
“On hole one the driver will be a three-man slingshot,” said Soderlund. “We’ll have something like that going on at every hole. On hole nine they will putt with croquet mallets through wickets.”
And somewhere on an emerald green hill, silhouetted by deep blue sky, will be a “Teletubby” that attendees can take a swing at for a small fee. Safely cushioned by layers of padding, a stalwart – and devoted – volunteer will patiently endure the wrath of Teletubby-haters everywhere. It’s not yet known whether the mode of attack will be tennis balls or golf balls.
Prizes will be given to winning tourney teams and for special accomplishments.
Golfers will automatically be entered into a raffle for prizes supplied by local businesses; others can buy tickets at Island Market and Country Corner. One coveted raffle prize will be two nights in Las Vegas, complete with a Vegas show.
O’Toole said the center’s annual revenue has been down about 10 percent.
“We’ve definitely felt the effects of the economy, but we’ve also prepared for it,” she said. “We just adjusted 10 percent of our expenses.”
The morning tournament costs $75 and includes golfing, a goodie bag, a continental breakfast, lunch and the awards reception. The afternoon tournament costs $50 and includes golfing, lunch and the ice cream social. For $100, participants can live it up on all 18 holes, with all meals and goodies included. Community members are invited to attend lunch, kids’ putt-putt golf and the ice cream social by donation.
Schedule
Registration for the morning match is at 9:30 a.m., with tee-off at 10 a.m. A burgers and brew lunch and awards for the morning match will begin at 1 p.m. Registration for the afternoon match will begin at 1 p.m., with tee-off at 2 p.m. The OrcaTrazz performance and ice cream social start at 5 p.m.
