1st Infantry Division, community bond over golf game

By Parker Rome, Fort Riley Public AffairsAugust 5, 2010

1st Infantry Division, community bond over golf game
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1st Infantry Division, community bond over golf game
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FORT RILEY, Kan. - Fort Riley leaders often work with Junction City and Manhattan leaders.

On July 29, however, leaders from each community stepped away from their desks and on to Custer Hill Golf Course for a home-and-home golf tournament.

"It helps us in our partnerships and relationships with both Junction City and Manhattan by letting us get together in a more relaxing atmosphere, so it's not always all business, all the time," said Garrison Commander Col. Kevin Brown. "It sets us up for times where we have to do business by hanging out and just having some fellowship out here on this day."

Golfers from each community were partnered together in 10 four-person groups for the scramble tournament.

With a 59, the winning group was Scott Stuckey, Tom Fryer, Ken Embers, the American Institute of Baking director of admissions, and Harry Hardy, staff judge advocate.

"We started out with an eagle on our first hole and had a birdie on the second," Fryer said. "From there on, everything went well."

Bevin Landrum, military liaison officer for the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce, has organized and hosted the Manhattan home-and-home tournament for three years, but was able to participate in the Fort Riley-hosted event.

Landrum said she wanted to make sure she played in this tournament, instead of just being on the coordination end.

"It was a little bit of a letdown to plan it (the Manhattan tournament), because all I'm out there doing is taking pictures," she said. "So, I wanted to make sure I played in this tournament."

Landrum also said she made new friends during the event.

"Coming out to Fort Riley and bringing all of the community people together is really good, so we have a chance to play with each other and talk back-and-forth in a casual environment, and make sure we keep up with what's going on - not just when you're sitting at a desk in a meeting," she said. "You get the real nitty-gritty information behind the scenes, and it's a real good partnership and friend-building thing."

She said she almost had to do cartwheels, too.

"They almost had me doing cartwheels," she said. "I told my partners if we eagled, I'd do a cartwheel, but they left me hanging and I didn't have to do it."

Landrum said she was able to contribute to her team's score.

"They only had to use one, but they used two, and I got a putt," she said. "I was a little nervous coming out and playing, but it was awesome. They made me feel perfectly welcome. It was a lot of fun - it was the most fun I've ever had working, hands down."