Book it. The thirteenth annual Swing for Rotary Golf Tournament is in the books. There is history here. The tournament has been staged every year at White Horse Golf Club. Kingston North Kitsap Rotarian Nancy Martin tells of the first year, 2007, when the tournament was almost cancelled before it began. Because White Horse was not yet “officially” open. Only through contacts at the county were Nancy and others able to secure the final permit that allowed the first tournament to go on. Now, thirteen years later, hundreds of thousands of dollars have been raised by the tournament in support of the causes of Kingston North Kitsap Rotary Club.
This year’s June 21 event, whose corporate sponsor was Ameriprise-Latitude 48 Group, saw fewer golfers than in years past, but enthusiasm was clearly not in decline. On a crystal clear Friday afternoon, the shotgun was fired at precisely one o’clock commencing action on the course. Action off the course continued throughout the afternoon with silent auction bidders upping the ante on an array of dozens of silent items through Text2Bid technology sponsored by the Point Casino and Hotel. Following golf, cocktails flowed, dinner was served, a live auction commenced, paddles were raised, and prizes were awarded. More than $14k was given to Kids of North Kitsap by generous golfers and guests who “raised their paddles.” Beneficiaries will be Kingston area schools, North Kitsap’s Food4Kids program, Kitsap Homes of Compassion and more. Total proceeds from the tournament were $35k, all of which the Rotary Club puts to good use in the North Kitsap community.
A highlight of this year’s event was the putting contest sponsored by Windermere Real Estate - Catherine Arlen, and the putting jackpot sponsored by Liberty Bay Auto. Dozens of golfers tried their stroke on a fifty foot uphill, sideways, downhill putt to qualify to try to sink the jackpot putt for $10k. Two drilled the fifty-footer. The qualifier for the $10k putt missed.
Thirteen successive tournaments could not happen without the generous support of individuals and businesses in the community. And White Horse (terrific dinner and even-better golf course). Tournament dinner sponsor was Kingston Dental. Haselwood Auto Group sponsored the hole-in-one contest on the tricky, 160 yard fourth hole at White Horse (no one took the shiny orange ride home). Beverage carts were sponsored by Columbia Bank and Liberty Bay Bank. Tee sponsors included 20/20 Eyecare Center, Cross Country Mortgage, Kingston Ale House, Kingston Henery Hardware, Kingston Lumber, Olympic Property Group, Olympic Tax Services, Penrith Mortgage/Windermere Real Estate, Poulsbo CPA, Poulsbo’s Les Schwab Tire, Professional Firefighters Union, Local 2819, Randy Kan, the Filling Station, The Mannhole, Valley Nursery, and Windermere Real Estate-West Sound. Other sponsors included Roberts & Bryan PLLC, Port Gamble Theater, Land Title, Stanley Steemer, Apple Tree Cove Dental Center, Chinook Properties, Kingston Mini Storage, Kitsap Bank, Kitsap Credit Union, Martha & Mary, Johnsonlink Orthodontics, Kingston Crossing Wellness Center, the Law Office of Isaac Anderson, Sparkwood Events, Borrowed Kitchen Bakery, Costco, Cup N’ Muffin, Heritage Distilling, North Kitsap Herald, Olympic Photo Group, and Orbea Sign Company. Special thanks to Lambro Construction for donating the evening’s big raffle prize, your choice, $7500 for a new roof or a new deck.
Planning is already underway for tourney number fourteen. Friday, June 19, 2020. You can book it.