Synergy 8 Builders Drive for Kids Campaign cancels 2020 tee time
For the first time in 12 years, the Synergy 8 Builders won’t be teeing up their Drive for Kids campaign this summer.
The annual fundraiser — which has raised $4.51 million over the last 11 years — was scheduled to take place Aug. 25 and was once again to include a golf tournament and dinner.
The COVID-19 pandemic, and its various restrictions and ramifications, has changed those plans.
Large gatherings aren’t yet allowed under a provincial health order and may still not be possible by Aug. 25.
“We’re obviously very disappointed that we’re not going to be able to hold our event, but we have to respect what’s happening in our community, and what’s happening in the world, and also respect what’s happening financially to a lot of the supporters we have in our community, as well,” explained Synergy 8 Builders member Troy Davies, who is also a city councillor.
“We just felt it was the right thing to do.”
Davies said it was “a difficult decision” based on the economic realities and “our desire to ensure we follow the government and health guidelines for your safety and well-being.”
Last year’s event featured Darren Clarke.
In the past, the event has attracted such well-known golf celebrities as Clarke, Tom Watson, Nick Faldo,
Fred Couples, Colin Montgomerie, Nick Price, Retief Goosen, Curtis Strange, John Daly and Jay Haas. This year’s event was to include a handful of yet-to-be-disclosed celebrity headliners from the golf, football and hockey worlds.
“We typically have 1,000 people for our dinner event at Prairieland,” noted Davies. “Also, with our celebrities coming in from the U.S., it doesn’t sound like the self-isolation for 14 days (for travellers) may be removed by then — it’s something we weren’t able to risk with them. And also not having mass gatherings … we decided to shut it down for this year.”
Plans are in place for the event to return in 2021.
“We talked to our celebrities and they’ve all signed amendments to their contracts to come back for next year, which will be Aug. 31, 2021,” Davies said.
“We’ll start focusing on that.” In the meantime, the Synergy 8 Builders are moving ahead with a major capital campaign in September in partnership with Nutrien, Dakota Dunes Community Development Corporation and the province of Saskatchewan as “a first of its kind for the province.”
They hope to reach the target of $1.3-million to purchase new medical equipment to address a need among Indigenous children in the province.
Further details will be announced in the fall.