Payson Roundup

The summer golf calendar is filled with a myriad of benefit tournaments, but only a handful encompass such a worthy cause as the Arizona Elks Association Social Welfare Clothe-a-Child event.

All the proceeds are used to purchase clothing for needy and disadvantaged children.

“This is a statewide program, some of our clubs do it (donate clothes) at Christmas and some before the first day of school,” said tournament chairman Becky Waer. “We do it through the schools, so it is kind of a confidential thing.”

Waer estimates that last year more than $120,000 worth of clothing was given to Arizona children in need.

Teachers, administrators and school health care professionals around Arizona laud the Elks members for the program’s contributions to children’s welfare.

Due to the tournament’s admirable cause, Waer is urging linksters to participate in the next Clothe-A-Child benefit when it is played Aug. 1 at Payson Golf Course.

Check-in is at 7 a.m. and an hour later the fray gets off with a shotgun start. The format is four-man teams of best-ball play and golfers who do not have a team will be assigned one.

The fee is $80 per golfer, $65 for members of PGC, which includes 18 holes of play with a cart, lunch, raffle prizes and awards for closest-to-the-pin and longest drive.

The evening of the tournament, a dinner, cocktail hour, silent auction, music and dancing will be held at Payson Elks Lodge #2154.

An Aug. 2 morning breakfast will also be served from 7 to 10 a.m. at the lodge.

For those who don’t golf, there will also be plenty of activities going on at the lodge including bingo from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Reservations must be made by the deadline on July 18.

“Reserve early, don’t wait,” Waer urges.

Entry forms are available at the Elks Lodge located at 1206 N. Beeline Highway. For more information, call Waer at (928) 476-3678, or the lodge at (928) 474-2572.