Smiling children and their parents, carrying golf bags and decked out in their best athletic wear, flooded Creekside Golf Course Thursday afternoon for the 13th annual Creekside Classic hosted by the Valpo Parks Foundation.
“The Creekside Classic is kind of a hybrid. its part fundraiser, but more than that it raises awareness and is really just a feel good event for families,” said Barbie Johnson, Administrative Assistant at the Valpo Department of Parks and Recreation. “It’s unique because each foursome is made up of two adults golfing with two juniors. You really get some quality family time.”
The day – beautiful and cool - couldn’t be better for the family friendly tournament. The afternoon game was a scramble. For those who aren’t familiar with golf, a scramble is when everyone in the foursome takes a shot and then uses the best shot from the group each time they hit the ball.
“You’d be surprised at how many kids’ shots they use. Some of them are really talented,” said Johnson.
The Valpo Parks Foundation honored these very talented young golfers with certificates for their athletic achievements while their parents proudly looked on.
“We’re able to expose some of these kids to golf,” said Johnson. “They get to see what mom and dad do when they’re at a golf outing.”
It’s this sort of family bonding and enjoyment of the outdoors that the Valparaiso Department of Parks and Recreation works hard to provide.
“The Valpo Parks Foundation works with the department to make up the funds that we just don’t have. So the Creekside Classic and the sponsors that give to the Creekside Classic are really investing to keep the quality of our parks where it’s at and even exceed where we’re at,” said Johnson.
Some of the sponsors for the 2014 Creekside Classic include: Accent Dental, American Limousine, Ameripawn, Athletico, Aquatic Weed Control, Barile Ford, Burke Costanza & Carberry, Centier Bank, Century 21 Alliance -Nick Sommer, CSI, Design Organization, Inc., Douglas Koeppen and Hurley, Family Express Corporation, Horizon Bank, John W. Anderson Foundation, Lakeside Wealth Management, Merlo Kanofsky Gregg & Machalinski Law, Luke Family of Brands, Oak Partners, Inc., Porter Regional Hospital, Ritzi Family, Task Force Tips, Teachers Credit Union, Tonn & Blank Construction, Urschel Laboratories, Inc., Vale Park Animal Hospital, Valpo Velvet Ice Cream, Will Webb & Associates.
“Our sponsors are very generous,” said Johnson. “They believe that the quality of the parks system is key to the quality of life. And the parks help their business too. It helps real estate and development. Parks are key in keeping the community alive. And that a key factor that a lot of our corporate sponsors use in drawing their talent to the community and keeping them here. We’re all just very proud of where we live and want to give back to keep it that way.”