'Long Knife' pars course for resources

By Sgt. Karl Williams, 1st Cav. Div. Public AffairsApril 7, 2009

Staff Sgt. Robert Cline, 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, from Austin, Texas, drives the ball down the fairway during the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cav. Div.'s golf scramble April 1, at The Course...
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Staff Sgt. Robert Cline, 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, from Austin, Texas, drives the ball down the fairway during the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cav. Div.'s golf scramble April 1, at The Course... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Spc. Vincent Williams, 615th Aviation Support Battalion, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, of Standish, Mich., plays his second shot as teammates Pvt. Richardson Joseph (back left), from Marlow, Okla., Spc. Robert Manross, Union City, Pe...
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Spc. Vincent Williams, 615th Aviation Support Battalion, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, of Standish, Mich., plays his second shot as teammates Pvt. Richardson Joseph (back left), from Marlow, Okla., Spc. Robert Manross, Union City, Pe... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT HOOD, Texas - Fund raising doesn't always have to be car washes and bake sales.

The 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division sponsored a four-person, 18-hole Golf Scramble at The Courses of Clear Creek, on Fort Hood, April 1, to raise money for its homecoming.

Afton Keller, 4th BCT's Family Readiness Support assistant, said 23 Soldiers made up seven, two-to-four members teams, competed for 1st place bragging rights and for a chance to help the brigade raise funds.

"The funds raised from the golf tournament will be used throughout the brigade to purchase signs, banners, and posters for its homecoming," said Keller, from Seattle. "We try to be mindful of the financial strain fund raising may cause on our rear detachment Soldiers. So having a golf tournament allowed us the opportunity to open it up to the Fort Hood community."

Setting up a golf tournament is fairly easy, said Chuck McPhilomy, the golf course's assistant manager and assistant golf professional. It starts with a phone call or a visit to our office from a unit rep.

"We give them tournament ideas on how they can raise money a lot easier such as, selling 'Mulligans' or buying a 'Tee Box' and again, the money goes right back to the FRSAs or to the units themselves," said McPhilomy, from Jacksonville, Fla. "It's not golf course money; we turn very little profits on these tournaments. We are out here for the soldiers."

Keller said after speaking to Megan Shapiro, the manager of The Courses of Clear Creek, they decided "best ball," one of the most popular golf tournament formats, would be a great idea as a fundraiser.

In best ball, each member of the team hits from the same spot throughout the hole, using the best shot each time to determine the location of the next shot. This best ball play continues until with each round of shots counting as one stroke for the group, until a final group score is posted for the hole.

Staff Sgt. Robert and Andrea Cline, a married couple, said they enjoyed this mid-week day off together by participating in the golf tournament.

"I'm here to support my husband, but also to make sure that when the brigade's Soldiers do come home from Iraq, they have a good homecoming," said Andrea, from Columbus, Ohio."

Throughout the four-and-a-half hour tournament, which started at 10:30 a.m., all the teams were vying for the tournament victory, which made it exciting, Keller said.

In the end, the tournament was won by Staff Sgt. Michael Hansen, from Daytona Beach, Fla., Staff Sgt. Robert Cline, from Austin, Texas, Andrea Cline, from Columbus, Ohio, and 1st Sgt. Brian Michael, from St. Joseph, Mo. Each team member received a $30 gift certificate to The Courses at Clear Creek's pro shop.

Staff Sgt. Michael Espelage, 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 4th BCT, said it was nice to have a Wednesday off from work.

"I'm not a very good golfer, but it was nice to have the day off in the middle of the week, and a chance to support the FRSAs in their efforts to raise funds for the brigade," said Espelage, from Falmouth, Ky. "And since first and second place soldiers are from 2-7 Cav., it makes it a good day."

The 2nd Place team received $25 gift certificates to local restaurants and two teams tied for 3rd Place. One, 3rd Place team received hats and drink koozie and the other 3rd Place team received T-shirts.

Additional prizes were awarded for longest drive, a hole-in-one and longest putt.

Keller said, from the laughter she heard, it "guaranteed" everyone had a good time.

The 4th BCT Rear Detachment will host another golf scramble on May 5, at The Courses of Clear Creek with a 9 a.m. registration and a 10 a.m. shotgun start. For more information, please call Staff Sgt. Willette Blackman at (254) 681-3594.