(Golf in) Gwinnett is great

   Golf has been great for my family. At the turn of the century when my grandparents got off the boat and couldn't speak English, they worked in the kitchen of a golf resort. In the 30's my dad caddied there and picked up some great golf tips. In the 60's I worked as a waitress at that same resort and learned in my own way that with tips, golfers are the greatest.

   I've since discovered golf is also great for Gwinnett. The Sugarloaf Country Club in Duluth provides jobs, enhances the environment and brings in revenue. Their 150 employee diligently work to maintain their status as a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary. Manager Doug Meredith noted that Sugarloaf has won multiple Environmental Leaders in Golf Awards. Categories include water quality management, wildlife/habitat management and education/outreach.
And when it comes to outreach, Sugarloaf really hits it on the green. From March 28-April 3, Sugarloaf will host its ninth Bellsouth Classic, a charity event that synergies the efforts of corporation and community.

   The main thrust of the fundraising is to put money back into the local community. Bellsouth's major charity is Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. So far, through the efforts of volunteers, they have donated $10 million.

   Volunteers from all walks of life are now teeing off for this cause. Over 300 Bellsouth Georgia Pioneers are working up front and behind the scenes. Past President Gerald Barger said, "We are the biggest corporate volunteer organization in the state."

   This volunteer operation has no administrative expenses, so all proceeds from the Bellsouth Classic go directly to Children's Healthcare.

   But it doesn't stop there. Dave Markert, of the St. Vincent De Paul Society, which assisted over 1600 Gwinnettians last year, informed me of the Birdies for Charity program.

   "It's like a walkathon, but they count the birdies that the pros hit throughout the tournament. After all, the game is going to go on no matter what, so we might as well raise as much money as we can off what the pros do. What's really awesome and generous on the part of Bellsouth is that they handle all the expenses and prizes, so 100% of the money raised goes to the charity. Plus, they match up to 50%. It's fabulous. They also have a 'guess the birdies contest' where the participants can win a huge wide screen television."

   For an idea of what to pledge or what to guess, Markert said the average number of birdies per tournament is 1620, so even penny pledges make great gains.

   Over 50 organizations are participating in Birdies for Charity. (To pledge or include your charity for next year e-mail svdp@markerts.com, visit www.bellsouthclassic.com or call 770/951-8777)

   Oh, yeah, I asked Markert how they came up with the term "birdie." He said, "In 19th century slang, it meant "something great." See, didn't I tell you golf is great for Gwinnett?

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