Golfers dig deeper in city’s time of need

In a time when people are careful about every cent that leaves their pockets, a large group of golfing enthusiasts have found it in their hearts to use those cents to help local charities.
 

For the last two decades, the Idylwylde Golf and Country Club has been hosting the Chip In For Charity Classic golf tournament. Now in its 21st year, the tournament is nearing $1 million in funds raised for the Sudbury Hospital Foundation.
 

Despite the economic slowdown of the past year, the golf tournament, which was held Aug. 6 at the Golf Club, was, once again, a sold-out affair, with 36 teams of four participating.
 

Tournament chair Joe McDonald said he’s amazed by how the community has come together.
 

“It’s been a rough 12 months in the Greater Sudbury economy and many people and businesses are already having to do more with less,” he said. “So, there was concern about how the tournament would go this year.
 

“It really is a true testament to the people and businesses in Greater Sudbury,” he continued. “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised — Sudburians have a history of being there for one another. Their dedication means we’ll be able to help more needy causes yet again this year.”
 

Last year, the tournament raised about $40,000 to purchase two infant warmers to help care for premature babies at the Sudbury Regional Hospital. McDonald said the hospital chooses how the funds will be used each year.
 

“We ask the hospital to provide the focus. We don’t want to tell them what to do with the money, just pick whatever they need.”
 

McDonald said the individuals who originally selected the Sudbury Hospital Foundation as the recipient charity did so because it’s something everybody is impacted by in some way.
 

“There’s a whole list of people who have played in this tournament since year one, and they keep playing every year because they know all the money goes to the hospital,” he said.
 

“I think people in Sudbury dig deeper when times are tough, because that’s when we know that people really need help. That’s when we know that the hospitals don’t get all the money they need, so we better help out, so all our families and friends, when they have to use the hospital, have everything they need.”