By JAMES BELL
Hays Post
On May 6, community business leaders will once again converge at the Smokey Hill County Club for the 13th annual Hays Chamber Golf Tournament and Patio Party.
The event is set to kick off with registration at 8 a.m. and tee off at 9 a.m.
While the event is a fun way to network with professionals around Hays, the event also helps the chamber.
“One thing people should know it's our largest fundraiser of the year,” said Hays Chamber president and CEO Sarah Wasinger.
While typically Chamber events are limited to member businesses, she said for the Golf Tournament that requirement is waived.
“It's just such a good opportunity to get to meet new people,” Wasinger said.
During the event 38 teams will take the course, sponsored by Nex-Tech Wireless.
“It's our second year as the title sponsor, we're so proud to be partnering with the Chamber again, last year was so much fun for us,” said Alicia Tripler, director of sales and customer development, Nex-Tech Wireless. “Our teams came out, we had golf teams and we had volunteers out on the course. And what a fun event for everyone to get together to network to interface with a little competition going on. A lot of fun, a great day and we're so happy to be a part of it again.”
Along with a day on the links, participants will also be served breakfast, and then lunch prepared by Smoky Hill Country Club.
During play Wasinger said prizes will be available including a closest to the pin prize as well as awards for a hole in one.
And for those not having the best day on the course, the $100 Midwest energy ball will return, allowing teams to redo a hole, $20 Mulligan’s will also be available on the front and back nine.
Hot appetizers will be served as participants wrap up on the course.
“It seemed to go well last year, and these options people really liked,” Tripler said. “I think the great thing about this being the biggest fundraiser for the chamber is that there's so many different ways to participate or to sponsor the Chamber through this. So, whether it's donating events to the raffle or the silent auction, or participating in golf, purchasing these additional features, or going to the patio party, in any way you can sports chamber and have a great time.”
MORE THAN JUST GOLF
While the annual fundraiser is sure to bring fans of the game itself to the Smokey Hill County Club, for those less inclined to try their luck on the links, will also be provided a number of activites and events during the day, including a silent auction, raffle and the Plinko Patio Party.
“Some people may not be great golfers like myself, or perhaps they just don't have a full day to get away from the office. So, this event is for you,” Wasinger said.
The patio party is set to begin at 11 a.m. and run until 1 p.m.
“We're so excited always to do the Plinko Patio Party,” Wasinger said. “And this year, we're pleased to have Avalon Hays as our premier Plinko Patio Party sponsor.”
With this year’s event only a day after Cinco de Mayo, she said in the spirit of the day, Margarita’s will be served along with a taco bar lunch.
Drawings for the raffle will be during the patio party, and tickets are available now.
Tickets will be $20 each or three for $50.
“We have we have a pretty really great golf committee and they've decided to do three raffle prizes this year,” said Hays Chamber administrative assistant Marlis Fletcher. “We've got a stocked liquor bar. We've got a coffee bar, and I would say it's stocked too. It's even got a few different kinds of liqueurs for your coffee, but it's got like a really nice Keurig, a lot of really nice things on that coffee bar. And then we've also got a golf package, which is golf for four with your cart to the Smoky Hill Country Club. And then $100 gift card from the club as well. So, the chamber actually sponsored the card and the Smoky Hill sponsored the golf in the cards. So yeah, we've got three really great prizes.”
Slots for the Golf Tournament are currently full, but Wasinger said interested parties could join a waiting list in case of openings.
Tickets for the Plinko Patio Party are $25 each and are on sale now.
For more information visit the Hays Chamber website, hayschamber.com.