SCA’s Mini Golf Tournament now an island holiday tradition
While it may not be as anticipated as Santa Claus’ arrival, singing Christmas carols or exchanging presents with loved ones, the Sanibel Community Association’s annual Holiday Miniature Golf Tournament has become somewhat of a yearly tradition for the sporting set.
The 14th staging of the popular SCA activity, held from Dec. 26 to 29 at the Sanibel Community House, drew steady crowds from the time they opened on Friday morning until the final group of golfers turned in their clubs on Monday night.
“It’s a great activity for the kids, but the parents and grandparents really enjoy it, too,” said Darlene Rizzo, an SCA volunteer who greeted some of the Tiger Woods wanna-bes last weekend, along with fellow volunteers Ray Rizzo, her husband, and Joan Davey.
“We heard about this event from our neighbors where we’re staying,” noted Pam Flory, visiting from Hopewell, N.J. “They told us that they played the course over the past couple of years and that it was really fun. And it is.”
Flory and her 5-year-old son, Martin, were almost finished with their round of golf last Friday afternoon before the pair headed to the 18th green. The reward for sinking a hole-in-one on the par 2 finale was a free bag of popcorn.
“The course was pretty challenging,” added the mom while her son munched on his tasty prize. “Martin did a great job. We both had a lot of fun.”
Jaydee and Halle Lindgren, mother and daughter from Minneapolis, Minn., were spotted laughing as the youngster swung and successfully placed her ball up the ramp on the fourth hole on a single try. However, mom didn’t do as well.
“We both love miniature golf,” she said, still laughing from her multiple attempts at reaching the escalated green. “We thought this was going to be held outside, so we were surprised to see that it’s indoors. That’s great because it’s a little hot today.”
When asked what she enjoyed most about playing mini golf, 6-year-old Halle responded with a smile, “I like hitting the ball hard!”
Moments later, after trying to send her ball up a ramp on the difficult sixth hole seven times without success, Halle added, “This hole is REALLY hard!”
Daily winners
Friday, Dec. 26
Girls/Women
Ages 6 & Under — Evie
Ages 7-10 — Annilda
Ages 11-14 — Elizabeth Zecker and Rachel Raisin (tie)
Ages 15-20 — Charlotte
Ages 21-59 — Kathy Raisin
Ages 60 & Over — Valerie
Boys/Men
Ages 6 & Under — Willy
Ages 7-10 — Jimmy
Ages 11-14 — John O’Neill
Ages 15-20 — J.B.
Ages 21-59 — Mike Higgins
Ages 60 & Over — Julian
Saturday, Dec. 27
Girls/Women
Ages 6 & Under — Annie O’Neill and Emily Richard (tie)
Ages 7-10 — Nicole Benzrihen
Ages 11-14 — Abigail Jankelowitz
Ages 15-20 — NO WINNER
Ages 21-59 — Julia Dressler
Ages 60 & Over — Susan Dressler
Boys/Men
Ages 6 & Under — Zachary Southwick
Ages 7-10 — Joshua Jankelowitz
Ages 11-14 — Hayes Watson
Ages 15-20 — Andrew Brown
Ages 21-59 — Michard Richard
Ages 60 & Over — Barry Dressler
Sunday, Dec. 28
Girls/Women
Ages 6 & Under — NO WINNER
Ages 7-10 — Krista Thompson
Ages 11-14 — Katie Serrell
Ages 15-20 — Kelly Thompson and Sarah Uhlman (tie)
Ages 21-59 — Kecia Erickson and Renee Andrews (tie)
Ages 60 & Over — Sallie Soule
Boys/Men
Ages 6 & Under — Ben Ash and Kaeden Erickson (tie)
Ages 7-10 — Jonathan Robinson
Ages 11-14 — Jordan Sell
Ages 15-20 — Andrew Uhlman
Ages 21-59 — Jim Uhlman
Ages 60 & Over — Robert Erickson
Monday, Dec. 29
Girls/Women
Ages 6 & Under — Caroline Kim
Ages 7-10 — Sarah Adler
Ages 11-14 — Daisy Ball
Ages 15-20 — Blythe Gross-Hutton
Ages 21-59 — Julia Grey
Ages 60 & Over — Rita
Boys/Men
Ages 6 & Under — Russell Estreither
Ages 7-10 — Ryan Fleming and Jack Woods (tie)
Ages 11-14 — Ramsey Fisher
Ages 15-20 — Seamus Ball
Ages 21-59 — John Britton
Ages 60 & Over — Rudy