Clash of the Irons get new golf-only date
The North Fort Myers Civic Association was hoping that Saturday’s Clash of the Irons Golf Tournament at Magnolia Landing Country Club would be the first big fundraiser the organization has had since Hurricane Ian threw a monkey wrench in everyone’s plans.
Unfortunately, after a fairly dry week, rain returned Saturday morning after the foursomes finished four holes. The downpour made the course unplayable and brought everybody indoors for the raffles, auctions and buffet.
Though a rain date wasn’t set at first, the golf-only component was rescheduled for Saturday, Sept. 16, as the course reopens after summer maintenance. The shotgun start will be 8 a.m.
The tournament is still expected to make a profit after all expenses, and there could be another golf tournament late in the year as many foursomes were left out because the NFMCA sold out the 25 slots available.
It’s an example of how the organization is going about fundraising opportunities to help fund its scholarship program, shoe drive, teacher grants and other initiatives that help make North Fort Myers a better place in which to live.
Bob Hill, fundraising chairman, said while they couldn’t continue it after the rain, the event was a lot of fun for those who attended and tried to play. And there will be more of that where it came from.
Hill said they plan a pickleball tournament for September at the North Fort Myers Recreation Center.
“We have the venue. We just need to line up teams. This is a first for us, so we don’t know what to expect, but we hope to raise $5,000 to $6,000 from it,” Hill said.
Looking ahead, Hill said the NFMCA plans to bring back the Wiffle Ball Bash and introduce a cornhole tournament for sometime late in the year.
“We don’t have a facility yet, but we want to find a place that will serve alcohol, maybe at a veterans club or Applebee’s where you can have it outside,” Hill said.
Another idea Hill came up with is a wheelbarrow full of bottles of alcohol, which Rotary has done with great success. He would also like to do a Touch-a-Truck giveaway, maybe at a place like Advance Auto, with bounce houses, the sheriff’s office and other groups.
There have also been some tried and true fundraisers the NFMCA has done over the years, such as a pancake breakfast or selling tickets for North Fort Myers night at a Mighty Mussels game.
There was also a sneaky successful fundraiser where they raffled off a tree made up of Florida lottery tickets of different varieties.
“We’re busy this year, trying to make up for what we lost over the last year,” Hill said. “We have a pretty active group and people with good ideas that really want to see North Fort Myers take off.”
For more information on the North Fort Myers Civic Association, go to nfmcivic.com.