THUNDER BAY – Mayor Bill Mauro won’t have the opportunity to host the annual Mayor’s Mulligan next month, but the fundraiser for PRO Kids is getting a second chance in 2020.
Laura Daniele, executive director at the city-run charity that helps provide sporting opportunities to underprivileged children, said they’ve revamped the event that might even broaden its appeal.
Instead of an 18-hole scramble golf tournament, the Mayor’s Mulligan will be a three-hole putting challenge, staged on Sept. 11 at Chapples Golf Course.
On average the event raises about $18,000 for PRO Kids, and this is a chance to recoup some of the money just in time for the fall sporting season.
“We just didn’t know what the future was,” said Daniele on Thursday, acknowledging they initially thought they might have to cancel the event altogether this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. They’d already decided to cancel the tournament, in part because of the trouble lining up sponsorships and in part because of the logistics of hosting a tournament in the coronavirus era, with restrictions on gathering sizes and other obstacles.
“We pretty much cancelled it, but then we thought it would be nice to mark the day as things are starting to open up and even programs for kids are starting to open up.”
For 11 hours on Sept. 11, golfers will have the opportunity to donate $10 to the cause for a chance to putt a golf ball at three different holes on the putting green at Chapples, with an opportunity to buy two mulligans for an additional $10.
Officials will measure the distance of each putt from the cup and at the end of the day, the participant with the smallest total measurement will win top prize. A second-place prize and a random draw winner will also be awarded.
The only stipulation is that golfers are asked to bring their own putter and balls, to limit contact and lower the risk of spreading COVID-19.
“We’re not sure what to expect,” Daniele said. “We’re hoping that some of the golfers who are already golfing that day will participate. And PRO Kids does have a nice following, so we’re hoping some of our supporters will come and try it out, just because it’s something new.”
Mauro, who took part in a demonstration putting contest with sponsor TD’s district vice-president Michael Nitz, said he’s just glad the organization is able to do something to raise much needed money to keep their program running.
This keeps the event alive, something he feels is important, given the nature of what PRO Kids does.
“Several thousand through this program have been helped and provided an opportunity for young kids, whose family might not have been able to afford it, to participate in recreational sporting events. Sports has been such a huge part of my life growing up. Thunder Bay has been a great community, where organizations have always been there to make things affordable,” Mauro said.
“This is sort of just continuing the trend.”
The event will run from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sept. 11.
