Golfers got into the
swing at United Cerebral Palsy of Minnesota’s
(UCPM) 12th Annual Golf Scramble July 21, at the Oak Marsh Golf Course
in Oakdale. While having fun in the hot sun the participants raised
money to help people with Cerebral Palsy (CP), and the weather cooperated
with sunny skies. UCPM supporters have declared the event a resounding
success.
Cerebral Palsy is a
lifelong condition caused by a trauma to the brain generally occurring
prior to, during or shortly after birth. It is not a disease. Therapy
and/or medical interventions and assistive technology may help
improve an individual’s quality of life.
This information is from the UCPM website: www.ucpmn. org. The theme
on the United Cerebral Palsy of Minnesota website is “Life
without limits for people with disabilities.”
The golfing commenced
at noon with a shotgun start. Each golf team began the tournament
with a pink golf ball, called a pink lady. Golfers were supposed
to keep the pink lady in play as long as possible. Debby Gustafson
confessed that her team lost their pink lady on the first hole.
Despite that loss, Gustafson said she always has fun at the scramble,
adding “How can you go wrong with golf?” Gustafson
and her company, Twin Cities Metro CDC, have sponsored the UCPM event
for five years.
Gustafson also won a golf
shirt at the Access Press golf hole, because she had the closest
guess for how many pieces of candy were in a bowl. (She guessed 63
pieces and there were 64.) Each golf hole had a fun activity and
there were contests and awards for longest drive, closest to pin
and longest putt. First, second and third place teams received awards.
Golfers also enjoyed a silent auction which featured sports memorabilia.
Dale Findlay, an individual with CP, has volunteered on the course
games for 12 years.
About 70 golfers participated
in this year’s event. UCPM Board
Member Tim Hanson played on a team with his wife Darcy. Their son
Adam, who has CP, enjoyed watching the tournament from his front-row
seat in the golf cart.
Hala Sonbol was a hostess
at the Access Press golf hole. She has CP, and this was her first
UCPM event. Sonbol enjoyed the day, although she felt disappointed
that she didn’t see any golfers with
disabilities.
A UCPM spokesperson said they welcome all golfers; in fact they would
love to see more people participating. The UCPM organizers invited
the Sister Kenny golf program for people with disabilities, but haven’t
gotten any responders yet.
In the evening UCPM held a banquet at the Oak Marsh facility. The
guests enjoyed an Italian buffet dinner. A couple of UCPM Board members
made brief comments at the banquet. Tim Hanson spoke about what CP
is and how it affects people.
Mike Stephenson, UPCM
Board member and Chair of the Golf Committee, thanked everyone
for coming. Stephen-son has been on the UCPM Board for five years.
He has CP and uses a communication device. Stephenson says about
the golf tournament. “I think the number one thing
we did that day was to raise money to help people with CP.” For
example, the UCP Minnesota Assistive Technology Loan Network (MATLN)
lends communication devices to anyone who is nonverbal. ![end of story]()
To learn more about United Cerebral Palsy and the Golf
Scramble: www.ucpmn.org
