On Friday, November 2, 2012, Child Advocates II, Inc. (CAII) and the Second Judicial Circuit Guardian ad Litem Program hosted Golfing for GAL, the fourth annual CAII Golf Tournament, at SouthWood Golf Club in Tallahassee, Florida.
The CAII golf tournament is a fun and rewarding way for supporters to help abused and neglected children in the local community.
The donations collected from players and sponsors are used to provide for children's basic needs, to help fund special programs like the annual Holiday Wish List Drive and to support our program.
Click on the pictures embedded in this article to see them larger.
For program staff and CAII board members working the event, the morning started in the early light of dawn and 40 degree temperatures.
Several tables were set up—one for players and teams to register and make donations; one with raffle prizes represented by bowls for players to place their tickets; and one with information about our program and CASA Kids Studio jewelry for sale.
Author's note: please email info
galf2.org if you are interested in buying our jewelry pieces.
Players started to arrive around sunrise, signing in at the registration table and making their raffle selections before returning to the warmth of the clubhouse for hot coffee and fresh doughnuts. Many then made their way to the practice areas to warm up and await the shotgun start.
A Beautiful Day for Golfing
Before the master of ceremonies was introduced, Head Golf Professional Mike Durst, PGA of SouthWood Golf Club welcomed our players to the course and announced the tournament's rules.
Formally kicking things off as master of ceremonies, Representative Alan Williams spoke to everyone present about the importance of guardians ad litem and thanked the players and sponsors for their support of the community.
After concluding his opening remarks, Representative Williams and the other players boarded their assigned golf carts and one by one set off to their respective starting tees.
Established in 2002, the SouthWood Golf Club features a 7,172-yard, 18 hole course designed by professional golfer and 1992 PGA Masters Tournament winner Fred Couples and his longtime business partner, architect Gene Bates.
Touted as an "enjoyable and challenging golf experience for players of all levels," the course is also quite scenic with rolling hills, southern live oak trees draped in Spanish moss and golf cart paths meandering by homes and undeveloped woodlands alike.
Making their way through the different holes—each of which is fittingly named, including The Marshes, Oak Haven, Deer Run, Mossy Hill and Back Porch—the teams and players took the next four hours or so to complete the course.
Although very cool in the early morning, the temperature would continually rise through the mid 70s under mostly clear and sunny skies; the perfect day to be outdoors. Everyone appeared to genuinely enjoy themselves and the company of their teammates, regardless of the scores.
Rewarded for the Fruits of Their Labor
In the early afternoon, players started to finish their games and return to the clubhouse. After delivering their scorecards to Mike Durst for final tallying, all players were invited inside to the SouthWood Golf Club Restaurant where the tournament lunch was being served.
The restaurant's barbeque luncheon buffet consisted of pulled pork, chicken, baked beans, cole slaw, pickles, bread, brownies, iced tea and water. The restaurant's friendly waitstaff were also on hand to assist diners and bus tables.
Finally, it was time for the awards ceremony and CAII Board President Brian Sealey took to the stage to officiate. In his opening remarks, Sealey thanked all of the teams, players and sponsors for their participation and briefly explained how CAII uses the funds that they raise.
Circuit Director Deborah Moore then joined Sealey and added her thanks. Moore specifically recognized her staff and the CAII board members who volunteered their time to recruit players and sponsors, manage logistics, organize and work the tournament.
Moore additionally thanked Representative Williams, CAII board member and 2012 golf tournament committee chair Danielle Gulasa, SouthWood Golf Club, leadership sponsor Leon County Sheriff's Office and refreshments sponsor Starbucks.
With the opening remarks and thank yous wrapped up, Sealey and Gulasa proceeded to announce and distribute the various awards, draw the raffle prize winners and bring the event to a close.
Awards and Prizes
Four donated tournament prizes were handed out to teams and players.
- First place was awarded a free round of golf for four at SouthWood Golf Club
- Second place was awarded a free round of golf for four at Capital City Country Club
- Closest to the pin was awarded a $25 gift certificate for Bonefish Grill
- Longest drive was awarded five 5-pound bags of Starbucks coffee
Fifteen donated raffle prizes were given away by drawing from the tickets cast earlier.
- $15 gift certificate for The Backwoods Bistro (two awarded)
- $25 gift certificate for Bonefish Grill (two awarded)
- $15 gift certificate for Cold Stone Creamery
- $25 gift certificate for Cole Couture
- $25 gift certificate for LongHorn Steakhouse
- $25 gift certificate for Synergy Salon
- $15 gift certificate for Wendy's
- $40 gift certificate for a professional one-hour massage
- gift certificate for one free pizza at Barnaby's Family Inn (three awarded)
- gift certificate for one free round of golf for two at Jake Gaither Municipal Golf Course
- gift certificate for one free round of golf for two at Hilaman Golf Course
- gift certificate for a Wingstop Dinner Package for Two
- gift certificate for a Wingstop Tailgate Package for Ten
Teams, Players and Sponsors
Child Advocates II and the Second Judicial Circuit Guardian ad Litem Program sincerely thank each and every one of our players and sponsors for their participation and support.
- Leadership and Breakfast Sponsor
- Leon County Sheriff's Office
- Advertising Sponsor
- Cumulus Media of Tallahassee — listen to the radio spot
- Refreshments Sponsor
- Starbucks
- Teams and Players
- Capital City Consulting
- Cumulus Media of Tallahassee
- FASTSIGNS
- FSU Department of Education
- The Justice Research Center
- Scott Kent
- Kool Beanz Café and Keith Baxter
- Law, Redd, Crona and Munroe, PA
- Leon County Sheriff's Office
- Perry
- Brian Sealey
- Kris Smith
- Tallahassee State Bank
- Wakulla County Sheriff's Office
- Representative Alan Williams
- Hole Sponsors
- Capital City Imports
- Capital Insurance Agency and David and Janice Corbin
- Cold Stone Creamery
- Foundation Homes of Northwest Florida
- Hopping Green & Sams, PA
- Kool Beanz Café and Keith Baxter
- Law, Redd, Crona and Munroe, PA
- Leon County Sheriff's Office
- Mainline Information Systems
- Dr. Whit Oliver
- John and Meg Paschal
- Pinnacle Construction Support Group
- Premier Construction-Residential
- Qualtest
- Starbucks
- Tallahassee State Bank
- Trak Engineering
Be sure to check out the CAII Golf Tournament 2012 photograph set on Flickr. Thank you again for making this event a success for the program and the children in our community.
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