250+ golfers play in Freedom Fund tourney
HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE – The second annual Arkansas Freedom Fund golf tournament, benefiting the Wounded Warriors Program, expanded to two flights this year to accommodate the number of people wanting to participate.
There was still a waiting list, as people stepped forward to show their patriotism and support Arkansas veterans wounded in combat.
The tournament fielded 256 golfers in two flights, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.
Mark Leonard, chairman of the Arkansas Freedom Fund, said he has been amazed by the support for the tournament, which raised $ 8,000 last year. The tournament had an immediate boost this year with a $ 1,000 check from the Hot Springs Village Rotary Club, which will cover the cost of one of the rehabilitation bicycles for wounded warriors.
“We even had 20 veterans taking part in the tournament, and 16 of them are wounded warriors,” Leonard said. Veterans were marked with red, white and blue ribbons on their hats, and wounded warriors with yellow ribbons.
Every tree in the median at Diamante’s entrance had a yellow ribbon tied around it, and U. S. flags were flying everywhere, mostly due to members of the Akansa Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, which constantly works in support of veterans and their families.
DAR members Sylvia Matthews and Sheila Beatty were at the clubhouse entrance, checking in the registered golfers and selling tickets for mulligans.
“The tournament sold out so quickly last year with one flight, so it was expanded to two flights. It sold out over a month ago with people on a waiting list. The support is incredible,” Matthews said.
Scores of sponsors supported the endeavor, especially with silent auction items, many of which were bought outright. Other sponsors had prizes up for grabs for a hole- in- one at certain holes. This included a motorcycle on Hole 7, a Lexus on Hole 12, new golf carts on Holes 4 and 16, and two tickets to anywhere in the United States by American Airlines on Hole 16.
The Arkansas Freedom Fund also displayed a trailer donated by Christ of the Hills United Methodist Church in the Village. The trailer can carry 26 rehab bikes for wounded warriors and is assigned to them as needed.
“I eventually want to have an entire fleet of bikes and can just allow the wounded veterans to keep them and we have plenty to spare,” Matthews said.
Active military personnel also took part in the tournament, with members of the Army and Air National Guard serving as flag men on holes 1, 9, 10 and 18.
One golfer came all the way from Hattiesburg, Miss., to play in the tournament, saying, “It’s for a good cause. I wouldn’t miss it.”