PHOTO BY JACOB KESSLER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
GOLF … Jerry Donaldson, Brandon Walberg, Swanton Area Chamber of Commerce President Delray Busch, Lindsay King and Kevin Ford gather for a photo during the chamber’s sold-out 30th annual golf tournament on Friday, July 24, at White Pines Golf Course.
By: Jacob Kessler
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jacob@thevillagereporter.com
The Swanton Area Chamber of Commerce marked three decades of its annual golf outing Friday, July 24, as a full field of golfers took to White Pines Golf Course.
The chamber’s 30th annual golf tournament began at noon and drew 27 teams, filling the available slots for this year’s event.
This year also brought a new presenting sponsor, Skye’s Heating and Cooling, with the outing helping support a new scholarship being established in memory of Skyelar Kelly, the daughter of company owner Jeremiah Kelly.
Skyelar was killed by a drunk driver, and the scholarship will be awarded to Swanton graduates in her honor.
Proceeds from several of the day’s games and the 50/50 drawing will benefit the scholarship, while a portion of the money raised will also support the chamber.
Golfers had several contests to take part in throughout the course, including a betting hole, cornhole game, closest to the pin and longest drive.
Registration included lunch and a steak dinner following the tournament, while numerous donated items were available through raffles.
Prizes included a case of wine, Florida and airline tickets, a Stanley cooler filled with items and a whole-house air purification system with installation.
Beyond serving as a fundraiser, the annual outing gives local business owners and their teams an opportunity to connect outside of their normal workday.
Chamber representatives said those connections can help businesses build relationships, develop partnerships and expand their networks while enjoying a day on the course.
“Nobody can operate in a silo,” Chamber President Delray Busch said. “So, we need the community in order for us to be able to expand our business, connect with other people, find new partnership opportunities, and golf outings help provide that.”