GOLFING IN THE GLADES: NOAH PLANS MAY 23rd TOURNAMENT

NOAH is bringing a golf tournament to Belle Glade to help raise its profile throughout South Florida, said board member and tournament organizer Anthony Jones.

The 4-man scramble tournament is scheduled for May 23rd at the Sugar Cane Golf Club in Belle Glade, and Jones hopes to attract at least 40 golfers from throughout South Florida. The tournament is planned to benefit NOAH programs. But for the first effort, Jones said the focus in on building an annual event that golfers will want to return to year after year.

"It's not necessarily about making money right now, but about putting ourselves out there," Jones said. It also is an opportunity to promote the Glades golf course and the area in general. While most of the golfers will be local, Jones is working with golf enthusiasts in Rivera Beach and West Palm Beach and even in Broward County. He also hopes to get black golfing clubs on the coast to put the NOAH tournament on their annual calendar.

Jones is an avid golfer and knows plenty of other golfers who he wants to bring in. He thinks they will be pleased with the Belle Glade course. Some of the out-of-town people he is recruiting already have played at the course and have given it favorable reviews.

"We’re community-based here, and that’s what we want to do," Jones said. "The only way it's going to get better is to keep getting people to come play."

He also is trying to get as many local sponsors involved as possible to keep down the amount of money he needs to ask for from each.

"If we could find 30 sponsors to give us $100 apiece, that would be a tremendous help," he said. 

The event will include traditional golf contests like closest to the pin and longest drive. Putting together a first time tournament is no easy task, and Jones is happy to have the support of NOAH’s venerable office staff.

The cost for participating in the tournament will be $60 or $70. For more information, call NOAH offices at (561) 996-2300 and ask for Cheryl Tomlin.

Return to Newsletter »