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A Message To All

I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who played a part in making this event a success. This event required a significant amount of planning and effort, and it would not have been possible without the contributions of each and every one of you, including participants, sponsors, donors, and volunteers. Together, we achieved something truly special.

This was the first time any of us had organized an event of this nature, and it certainly presented unexpected challenges. Our primary objective was to raise funds for a cause we are passionate about supporting. In doing so, even seemingly small decisions, such as what to include in a gift bag, had a significant impact on the final donation amount.

I am thrilled to announce that after venue payments, we successfully acquired donations for every item we needed for the event. As a result, 100% of the donations made to the event were added to the final donation amount. Furthermore, Customized Energy Solutions generously agreed to match our total donation amount at a 3:1 rate. This means that a simple $50 donation became a much more substantial $200 contribution.

Initially, my goal for this event was to raise $15,000. However, when we tallied up all the contributions, applied the matching donations, and factored in last-minute contributions, the final donation amount we are sending to The Parkinson Council is $53,928 (a slightly higher number was initially reported due to double counting some numbers).

I am absolutely in awe of what we were able to accomplish and the significant impact we've made on a great cause. It's truly amazing what people can achieve when they come together to support a common purpose.

 

Event Recap (A Humorous Take)

Spring City, PA – As the morning sun painted a breathtaking picture above the tree line, golf enthusiasts eagerly converged upon the pristine Spring Hollow course, eager to partake in an unforgettable day of charity golf. Despite the encroaching chill of winter, this Fall morning in Spring City gifted us with an unexpected warmth reminiscent of a summer's embrace. Also like many fall mornings, the grass was covered in a slick layer of dew. This would lead to some unexpected challenges for one team, but we'll come back to that later.

The stage was set for a showdown of epic proportions, featuring 55 golfers ready to battle it out for a cause that was almost as noble as their efforts to avoid bunkers and water hazards. This matchup had more twists and turns than a roller coaster. This day would feature Drama, Excitement, Generosity, Mystery, and a dash of Controversy thrown in for good measure.

A few golfers seemingly could not handle the pressure of such a big tournament and backed out that morning. It looks as if the building stress got to them. We don't blame them; the pressure was real, and the world was indeed watching. But for the brave souls who remained, they marched on, teeing off at the first hole, ready to face the fairways that awaited them.

 One of the fun challenges the field had to compete with this day was a game with a special ball. Each team could select from a selection of emoji balls.  Picture this, grown adults being faced with life-altering decisions like, "Should I play with the heart eyes emoji today or go full kiss emoji mode?". The rules were simple, do not lose it and return it at the end for a prize. This proved to be challenging for this field as hole by hole the Emjoi balls were donated to the course almost certainly to be found by a future golfer completely puzzled why the ball they just found has the poop emoji on it. Some emoji balls had a very quick life. In fact, the group that started on the 13th hole (a group that I absolutely, positively, and with utmost certainty know nothing about) saw its emoji ball's very first tee shot hit a tree never to be seen again. Later on, in a bizarre twist, another team found an emoji ball in one of the holes which is still an unsolved mystery to this day. Why one of the groups in front of them would just leave this extremely valuable ball behind is interesting for sure.

Stationed on the par 3, 18th tee box were two brave volunteers running another game. It’s a good thing they couldn’t see what was playing out on the course behind them or they may have realized that their lives were in danger. The game they were running would allow players an opportunity to put money down on their tee shot and if they hit the green, they would double their money. A few players were successful in their efforts and in the spirit of the day, many winners donated the winnings back to the charity or redeemed them for extra raffle tickets.

 Step right into the heart of the controversy, where the atmosphere was electric as one particular foursome began to captivate the crowd's attention with a spectacle that felt like a live-action golfing drama. The buzz around this group swelled, and the crowds around them started to grow. Wild speculations about their true identities danced through the hushed whispers of the intrigued onlookers. And then, as if summoned by the golfing gods themselves, a driver's thunderous crack resounded through the course, an unmistakable sonic boom that set pulses racing. It was on the longest drive competition hole, and one member of this team unleashed a drive straight out of a "Happy Gilmore" movie scene. The golf ball catapulted into the sky, split the fairway, and finally came to rest an astonishing 320 yards away. Yes, you read that right—320 yards! As the questions mounted, so did the volume of curiosity in the crowd. Rumors swirled. According to some media reports, the suspicion was that this group switched players with actual PGA tour professionals.  Responding to complaints from other players, the tournament committee would later comment that they launched an investigation into this but found no evidence of that being true. This team would go on to win the tournament with an impressive 14 under par. A friendly reminder to this winning team, that according to long time tradition, they will be hosting the champions dinner prior to the next year’s tournament.

A delicious lunch followed the on the course activities.  The players heard from a Jefferson University Neurologist and the CEO of the charity that the event is benefiting. The host then spoke a little about his motivation to put on the event and then it was raffle time! An impressive lineup of raffle items was offered. Local businesses offered various donations with everything from restaurant gift cards to custom-made furniture. The event’s main sponsor even got a custom-made coffee table with the company logo to place in their office. In all, it was a great day and all participants seemed to have a great time. Everyone came together for a fun day on the course and at the same time, a significant amount of money was raised for a charity doing some really good things in our local community.

Oh and back to that morning dew mentioned earlier. The hilly terrain combined with the wet grass proved to be quite a challenge for one group. This group often found themselves in areas of the course that no one even knew existed and were faced with a death-defying decision at one point. Legend has it, as the wheels of their golf cart spun on a slick grassy hill, they quickly found themselves sliding backward quickly heading right for a tree. Both the cart's occupants felt they had only one decision which was to leap from the cart to avoid an almost certain horrific crash. Bruised, scraped, and battered the two got up as their cart hit absolutely nothing and slowly came to a stop feet away. Unfortunately, there is no video of the incident but TMZ is on the case. To no one’s surprise, this team finished dead last. However, they wouldn’t go home empty-handed though. They walked out with their very own potty putter set. Better luck next year.

 

Sponsors & Donors​​​​​​

Par Sponsors

The McClure Family	Nicole Klein Team EXP REALTY
Brigantine Home	Dorothy Banks
Bishop Estate Vineyard and Winery,	Erin Flynn
Neil Margolis	Jason Paul
Mary O'Hara	Denny McKnight
The Maxwell Family	Joseph Dougherty
The Kinsing Family	Rebecca & Jake Forte
Aya Goldman	Noel & Susan Fleming
The Kern Family	Lauren Polana
Lauren Carrig	James Ragland
Hershey's Mill 9 Hole Ladies Golf Assoc	Meredith Murphy
Midge and Richard Devaney	Louisa DeCollibus
Beth Stansfield	Matthew Lilly
Sedona Taphouse	Vicki Politt

 

Birdie Sponsors

Anne and Jeffrey Keefer	Hershey’s Mill Golf Club
Bankjoy	Andrew Elliott
Primal Surf (Brigantine NJ)	Villanova University
Blue Mountain Resort	Amber DeLeo
Spring Hollow Golf Club	Katie & John Bean
Club Champion	Elaine Forte
Yoga Six Wayne & Glen Mills	Charles Howland

 

Eagle Sponsors

The Dzubow Family	The Speerly Family
The Taylor Family	John and Kimberly Castner
Lighthouse Love	The Teneralli Family
Allen Neis

 

Hole In One Sponsors

Stephen Fernands

Customized Energy Solutions

 

Bar Sponsors

Anne and Jeffrey Keefer

 

Thank you to:

Organizers, Volunteers & Helpers who made this event happen:

• Samantha Folsom
• Emily Forte
• Michelle Ricks-McClendon
• Karen Nester
• Mary O'Hara
• Stephen Fernands
• Kaite Bean
• Dan & Anna Duzbow
• Liz Taylor
• Maria Laurenti & The CES Marketing Team

I am sorry if I missed anyone!

A special shout-out to our guest speakers:

• Anh-Thu N Vu, MD - Jefferson Health, Neurology, Movement Disorders
• Wendy R. Lewis - Chief Executive Officer - The Parkinson Council

 

A message from Wendy R. Lewis (Chief Executive Officer - The Parkinson Council):

 

On behalf of the Parkinson's community, I want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Customized Energy Solutions, Brian Taylor, his family, colleagues, and friends for their dedication and philanthropic efforts to support the work and mission of The Parkinson Council. The overwhelming support of Brian and other families impacted by Parkinson’s culminated in a generous gift of $53,928 from the CES Charity Golf Tournament held on October 5th at the Spring Hollow Golf  Club. This contribution will be crucial in providing much-needed programs and services for individuals affected by Parkinson's disease in our region in 2024. The CES Charity Golf Tournament donation will help fund essential programs, including comprehensive care that addresses Parkinson's physical, social, and emotional impact. It will also support research to identify new treatments, improve quality of life, and ultimately find the cause of and cure for Parkinson's. In addition to research and care, The Parkinson Council invests in local initiatives such as  Dance for PD, art, yoga, and music that promote physical activity, engagement, and overall health for people with Parkinson's. Your gift will enable us to expand our reach and impact within the Parkinson's community, allowing us to help even more individuals each year. Thank you for your generosity and support.

 

If you are looking to continue to support this awesome charity, I encourage you to check out their upcoming event:

The Parkinson Council