The “Dude” Open
The “Dude” Open
Charity Golf Scramble Fundraiser to Benefit Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Coming up next Wednesday, July 17th is a golf outing you will not want to miss. Scheduled the third Wednesday of July for the last 13 years, the Cystic Fibrosis “Dude” Open Charity Golf Scramble has become a staple for golf lovers in Cattaraugus County and beyond.
The Dude Open is held at Cardinal Hills Golf Course in Randolph, NY and invites players in multiple divisions with a 10:00am shotgun start. The cost of $80 per player includes entry into the scramble, golf cart, dogs and burgers on the course, as well as the Cardinal Hills buffet post-play. And of course, a portion of your entry fee is donated to the Buffalo chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. At the post-party, you can expect awards and loads of prizes - from gift certificates and Bills memorabilia to bottles of liquor and even some cold hard cash!
The Dude Open Scramble certainly packs a powerful punch. The mastermind behind it: Stosh Yaworsky, who really seems to have three loves in his life - golf, his friends, and giving back. I spoke with Stosh about the upcoming Dude Open, going on 14 years strong now, and he told me the story of how this massive push for cystic fibrosis awareness came to be.
Stosh and his friends really just loved to golf. They would all load up in Stosh’s motorhome and travel to different courses. They affectionately called this the “BUTTS” Open in honor of their friend Russel “BUTTS” Deboy. A few years in, another friend in the group wanted to organize an open of his own in support of his grandson who had Cystic Fibrosis. In selling raffle tickets, they were able to turn their friendly golf trips into a sponsor for the Buffalo Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. This friend’s name was Douglas “DUDE” Herrick.
“The event started to get bigger and bigger, so we moved it to Cardinal Hills. I decided then to start the Cystic Fibrosis “DUDE” Open,” said Stosh.
If you couldn’t already tell by the nicknames, these gentlemen are true bros for life. “I consider myself almost family with the Herricks. Dude is one of my best friends,” said Stosh. Those who have had lifelong friends like Stosh and Dude know to what lengths you’d go for them. Along with their bond through the sport which they both love so much, it’s no surprise that the Dude Open Scramble is easily going on its 14th year and only getting better!
Like many golf events in our region during the summer months, the Dude Open Scramble successfully benefits a very important cause: Cystic Fibrosis. Directly the event supports Buffalo’s chapter in the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. “It helps fund research, development, therapies, and procedures to fight this debilitating disease that affects many young people nationwide,” said Stosh. “There is no cure at the present.”
Though relatively rare, Cystic Fibrosis can seriously destroy a person’s youth. Its behavior causes a persistent cough and frequent lung infections, making it extremely difficult for young people to keep active and begin a trend of a healthy lifestyle. And if anyone understands maintaining a healthy lifestyle, it’s Stosh and his friends who have been golfing together consistently for decades. Working to find relief and management for people suffering so that they can get out and enjoy both an active lifestyle and the camaraderie that comes with it, is unequivocally important.
After 13 years, there is much to remember about the Dude Open Scramble. Stosh recounted some of his favorite memories for me and reminisced fondly. “Last year, Andy Herrick attended for the first time. Andy graduated from Salamanca High School in 2023 and was a star athlete in spite of his disability,” recalled Stosh.
But let’s be honest, nothing will ever beat the OGs; Stosh and his original crew traveling around in the motorhome just trying to golf and enjoy each other’s company. “Many of the businesses looked forward to our group stopping by,” Stosh said, remembering all of the dives the group would visit on their journey. “A memorable stop occurred at the Old Bastards Club in Franklinville, New York. We had the entire establishment cracking up,” chuckled Stosh.
Golf certainly is in full swing, and we’ve got plenty of summer left! Why not celebrate the midpoint and give back at the Cystic Fibrosis “Dude” Open Charity Golf Scramble? Grab some of your best buddies and put your game face on. You can find information on registration on the Cystic Fibrosis "DUDE" Golf Event Facebook page.