Chamber golf tournament to raise funds for Alberta Children's Hospital

Fresh air, good food and good company is the focus of the Airdrie Chamber of Commerce’s 11th annual golf classic and banquet, to take place Aug. 17 at the Woodside Golf Course.

“We believe that golf and networking are a great mix,” said Lorna Hunt, executive director of the Airdrie Chamber of Commerce.

“That’s why we make this tournament fun. We have a lot of prizes and a lot of fun at the banquet.”

The tournament will be a best ball format with a shotgun start at 1:30 p.m. Registration takes place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the day concludes with a banquet at 6:30 p.m.

The theme of this year’s banquet is “Around the World,” and will feature delicacies from different countries in a buffet-style presentation.

There will also be prizes awarded to the top golfers from the afternoon, as well as live and silent auctions.

There is a charitable component to the day thanks to the chamber’s partnership with Woodside. For the third consecutive year, the two organizations have joined forces to raise money for the Alberta Children’s Hospital. In addition to hosting the tournament, Woodside will be donating a portion of funds raised from everything purchased at the golf club during the day to the hospital.

“Woodside approached us four years ago and asked if they could do the (fundraising event) in conjunction with us,” Hunt said. “We’re thrilled that they asked us to partner with them.”

According to Chris McNicol, executive director of the Woodside Golf Course, the hospital is a cause near and dear to Woodside.

“We started (the partnership with the Chamber) to bring the Airdrie community in to do a fundraiser for the (Alberta) Children’s Hospital,” he said. “It’s a perfect match because it involves the businesses and a lot of people who live within the community. Airdrie is the second biggest user of the hospital besides the City of Calgary.”

In the first two years the joint events have been held, they have raised nearly $60,000 for the Alberta Children’s Hospital. McNicol said he is hoping this year’s event raises more than $30,000.

For more information on the tournament, to register as a golfer or to become a sponsor, visit www.airdriechamber.ab.ca