Olean Chamber Golf Classic
Olean Chamber Golf Classic
This year’s event will raise money for the Michelle Krahe Peace Scholarship Fund
OLEAN - The Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce’s Golf Committee met this past March to discuss its annual Chamber Golf Classic. As the 2020 edition was held during COVID with restrictions, the committee is excited to move forward with its 8th annual Chamber Golf Classic on Monday, July 12, 2021 at Bartlett Country Club, with most COVID restrictions lifted.
“During the meeting, Dwayne Randal, golf pro at Bartlett, stated that by our date in July, the course should be pretty much back to normal,” stated Meme K. Yanetsko, GOACC COO. “The Committee did keep the box lunch out with the golf carts however, as many would come right from work to the course and wouldn’t be able to eat.”
The format of the Classic will be a scramble with a limit of 30 teams and no handicaps. The committee has decided to go with mulligans this year, which will be the first for the Golf Classic. Registration will open at noon that day with a shotgun start set for 1:00pm. Dinner with awards and cash bar will take place at 6:00pm.
“The mulligans were added so we could gift more monies to the charity,” said Yanetsko. “Each year the committee decides on a fund through the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation to donate to. Past recipients have included Meals on Wheels, Swizzy’s Cause, Interfaith Caregivers, United Way, McHone Scholarship, Mental Health, and last year was Canticle Farm. My family lost our leaders this year with mom (Irene) passing away in January and dad (Dave) in February. The committee surprised me with suggesting that we donate to our sister’s / their daughter’s fund – Michele Krahe Peace Scholarship Fund that sits with CRCF. I was speechless and very appreciative.”
The classic player fee is $125 per player/$500 per team and includes greens, golf cart, lunch and dinner. Hole sponsorships are available to business organizations at a $100 fee per hole. If you have 120 small items that you would like to place in the bag, please let GOACC know. Items could include pens, koozies, free drink token, etc. For those that aren’t able to golf but would like to come for dinner and awards, the fee is $40.
“The Classic features corporate teams and community teams,” explained Erica Dreher, GOACC Member Services Manager. "A Corporate Team consists of employees within the same physical company with current active employees who are full-time year-round. A Community Team is a team of friends, family, and/or non-employment associates captained by a GOACC member.”
Dreher added, “Last year, the Classic had 24 teams. We are hoping to fill the course with 30 teams for 2021. Back again this year: every team member’s drive has to be used at least twice, a putting contest before tee off at hole #17 will be held, and a 2-putt rule.”
Prizes from the pro shop will be awarded for Best scores in both divisions. Overall winning teams will take home bragging rights and a traveling trophy to ‘show-off’ all year. Other specials include skins, closest to hole and longest drive.
The golf winners from the 2020 Chamber Golf Classic were for the Corporate Division, Siemens with teammates: Jeff Crouch, Rich Davis, Marcus Aiello and Bob Forness; and for the Community Division, Scott Rotary Seals with Josh Rodman, John Forrest, Brian Rodman, and Scott Barry.
History of this event: Four Chamber members met with GOACC staff back in the Fall of 2013 regarding the highly successful Corporate Challenge 5K. Ledgie DeRose, Jeff Crouch, Frank Higgins, and Scott Derwick all have participated (or their companies) in the run/walk but wanted to add another dimension to the corporate challenge. That day, the 1st GOACC Corporate Golf Classic was developed! The idea behind the golf teams would be employees/spouses of participating employers similar to registration guidelines of the challenge.
For more information on the Corporate Golf Classic, please contact the Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce at 716-372-4433 or email info@oleanny.com. Information can also be found on the Chamber’s website, www.oleanny.com and facebook page, www.facebook.com/OleanNYChamber.