Registration still open for Special Pops Golf Classic
Slots still remain for golfers to register for the 13th annual Special Populations Golf Classic, which has the largest number of sponsors in the golf classic’s history.
“We are excited. There are so many worthy causes today, we are very blessed to get what we get,” Guardian Angel President Vince Marcucci said about the golf classic that supports neighbors with intellectual and physical disabilities at Special Populations. “Cape Coral Professional Fire Fighters local #2424 are the title sponsor this year. They are in the 11th year sponsoring it.”
This year the event will take place Saturday, Nov. 2, at Palmetto Pines Country Club. Registration, cash bar and continental breakfast will begin at 7:30 a.m., followed by a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m.
It is $130 per golfer, or a foursome team is $520. Registration can be done online at www.myspecialpops.org, or by calling (239) 574-0574. With registration, each player will receive one round of golf, gift bag, continental breakfast and buffet luncheon.
“We are at 20 teams. We can do 144 golfers. We can take more,” Marcucci said.
There is a $10,000 hole-in-one prize, as well as $800 in cash prizes for such things as closest to the tee.
“There is plenty of things to win,” he said, adding that players can win a flat screen television, golf clubs and a Visa card at specific holes.
Players will have access to complimentary beverage and snack services. Marcucci said individuals will go around in a golf cart while golfers are playing providing such things as fruit, power bars and water.
In addition to golf, there will be a Grand Prize Square Board, where attendees get to pick a number across and down and write their name in the square for a grand prize.
“There is $1,500 to $2,000 worth of items,” Marcucci said.
The golf classic typically raises between $35,000 to $40,000 for Special Populations. Marcucci said for their anniversary year they raised approximately $50,000.
“This helps us because we don’t have to beg the parents to do a bake sale,” he said. “This is a fun thing that is fast. The guys come in at 7:30, have something to eat and drink and then the teams get loaded up for the shotgun start at 8:30. Then they come back in for a great buffet luncheon.”
Awards are then given out.
Guardian Angels is a very small, but mighty group that puts on two events throughout the year, a golf tournament and fashion show, to raise funds for Special Populations.
“We are able to pour money into the program that the city and taxpayers do not have to,” Marcucci said. “The budget is tight with the program for the city.”
For example, Guardian Angels purchased a $72,000 bus for Special Populations. He said if the building needs a new refrigerator they take care of that too, so the city does not have to get involved.
In addition, a big chunk of the money raised goes towards scholarships to ensure if a family does not have funds to attend the program, Guardian Angels steps in and pays.
Special Populations serves between 130 to 140 individuals on a weekly basis.
With our special events and evening socials it goes to 180,” Marcucci said. “Some people just need socialization, so they can meet peers and have fun in a safe environment. Even if they can’t come during the day, some have jobs, or go to other programs, they can enroll in our evening socials and that gets them into our special events.”