PHOTO BY JACOB KESSLER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
CDD … Brian Dorosz, Mike Corrigan, Charlie Stutesman and Dan Tuckerman represent CDD during the Birdie Memorial Golf Outing.
By: Jacob Kessler
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jacob@thevillagereporter.com
A full field of golfers gathered at Ironwood Golf Course on Thursday, Aug. 13, for the Wauseon Chamber of Commerce’s annual golf outing, held under a new name honoring former Chamber director Bill “Bird” Drummer.
The Birdie (Bird D) Memorial Golf Outing began with a 12:30 p.m. shotgun start.
Proceeds benefited the Bill Drummer Memorial Scholarship Fund, which provides $1,000 scholarships to graduating Wauseon High School seniors.
Natalie Roth, who is in her sixth year on the Chamber’s board of directors, said the outing is the organization’s only scholarship fundraiser.
The Chamber awards as many scholarships as the money raised allows, with five $1,000 scholarships presented last year. Roth said the organization has awarded as much as $7,000 during one year of her time on the board.
This year’s outing drew 33 teams, exceeding the event’s usual maximum of 32. “We are full plus one,” Roth said. “The businesses always rally and help us out and treat us well.”
The outing’s new name combines Drummer’s nickname, “Bird,” with the golf term “birdie.” Several members of the Drummer family attended Thursday’s event, including his wife, Denise, and son, Matt, who participated in the outing. Other relatives helped with the meal.
Wauseon Eye Care, a major sponsor, also operated a “Hit It and Win It” putting contest. Golfers made a $5 donation for each attempt and won whichever prize they reached on the putting green. The business supplied staff and donated many of the prizes.
Additional activities included betting opportunities on par-3 holes, cash prizes for holes-in-one and proxy prizes for accomplishments including the longest drive, closest shot to the pin and longest putt.
Roth said organizers limited the number of additional games to keep play moving with the large field.
Roth recalled assisting Drummer with the golf outing in previous years and reflected on those moments.
“Bill knew how to pump someone up,” Roth said. “He made you feel like you were invincible. Like, you can do anything, because truly, you can.”
She said the turnout demonstrated the lasting effect Drummer had on the Chamber and the community.
“People are still showing up for him, and we still respect and honor everything that he did to make this day great in years past, and we just hope to carry on the tradition moving forward,” Roth said.
