Shotguns sounded off at 9:00 a.m. this morning, signaling the start of the 20th annual Valpo Parks Creekside Classic Golfing Outing. This year was a record breaking year for the Creekside Classic’s for the number of golfers participating as well as the amount of sponsors supporting the event.
Last year was the year of golf as people were able to enjoy the sport and follow the social distancing guidelines. 2020 held the title of having the largest turnout but this year surpassed it by far thanks to a resurgence in golf after an almost ten-year decline.
“We always knew that golf had value because all age groups and all genders can play,” said John Seibert, Director of Parks and Executive Director of the Park Foundation. “It is a good game to play, because you can do it for a short or long period of time, and you have choices of playing three holes, six holes, or nine holes. This resurgence has been remarkable and continuous.”
This is the third year in a row where the Creekside Classic has been sold out; Seibert likes to say “it keeps growing.”
The Creekside Classic sees young people and adults of all ages and skill sets coming into the game. All those who know about Creekside Classic can say how special it is to showcase kids and adults showing off their golfing skills together. The idea originated from the First Tee of Atlanta, an international youth development organization introducing the game of golf and its inherent values to kids, where they welcomed adults and kids to play golf together.
The event features groups of four—two adults and two kids—and the pairings are usually a mixture of strangers-soon-to-be-friends or a family of four as well. Parents play with their kids, grandparents play with their grandchildren, and sometimes, adults get matched with kids in the junior golf program.
Young golfers are then encouraged to learn about their community–those who help fund and sponsor them on today's event. The goal is really aimed towards encouraging the future of golf.
“These kids are creating some conversation, and they begin to realize and be thankful to have this organization in our community to support this event,” said Nancy Bender, Director of Instruction on the LPGA teaching professional.
Kids who participate learn to build relationships. When adults work with kids in the junior golf program for the first time, a young person is connecting with an adult and learning from their expertise.
“The relationships being created today, they'll last after a day spent together,” said Seibert. “Those are done carefully and with care. What's really great is that sometimes those relationships last for a lifetime.”
During the Creekside Classic Golf Outing, a five skills contest is held for ages 12 and under. The five skills highlighted in the contest are putt, chip, pitch, sand, and drive. There will be one winner from each age group: 8 and under, 9 and 10, and 11 and 12. Winning a skill will earn them a medal.
Kids not only learn golf skills, but also valuable life skills. A lot of life skills are built into the game, such as meeting and greeting, carrying on a conversation, asking open ended questions, communicating with adults, and learning patience and to advocate for themselves.
“A majority of golf outings are held with adults playing to raise funds for kids; this event does that as well as has kids and adults play and learn together,” said Seibert.
The Creekside Classic had 34 sponsors and will raise over $30,000 this year. That will go towards junior golf as well as Valpo Parks and supporting its programs, activities, and facilities throughout the community.
This golf course was made out to have 14 holes but because of the large number of people who are participating this year, they were able to add an additional two holes to support the number of participants who want to come out and be part of today's event.
Awards will be given for the teams with the lowest scores for first, second and third place. The youth winners will get trophies while the adults get a small gift certificate.
Following the ending of the Creekside Classic Golfing event, golfers will be greeted with a lunch and Root Beer ice cream float bar. To stay updated with all things Creekside Classic related you can check out their Facebook page.
A special thanks to the 2021 Foundation Partners that helped to support Creekside classic and sustain the Valpo Parks Foundation’s mission:
Premier: Urschel
Platinum: Currie Motors and Ford of Valpo
Gold: Family Express and Northwest Health
Silver: AM Stabilizers, Captrust, Centier Bank, CSI, Douglas Koeppen & Krsak, Frataccia Family, Gariup Construction, Grieger’s Motor Sales Inc., Hoeppner Wagner & Evans, Horizon Bank, Kusbel Family, Lehman & Lehman Inc., Madewell Media, NITCO, Rodenbarger Family, Shive-Hattery Architecture & Engineering, St. Mary Medical Center and Vale Park Animal Hospital
The 2021 Event Sponsors:
Premier and Silver: John W. Anderson Foundation, Griegers, General Insurance Services, Value Flooring
Contributing Sponsors: AM Stabilizers, Jim Cunningham, Family Express, Kusbel Family, Mitch Peters Attorney at Law, Rodenbarger family, Trailyard, Valpo Velvet and their Hole sponsors
