Oceanside Business Owners Play Golf With Camp Pendleton Troops

The 11th annual Golf with a Hero event offered about 100 Marines and Sailors from Camp Pendleton the chance to get off base and enjoy a game of golf and dinner with local business owners at the Arrowood Golf Course in Oceanside Wednesday.

“Golf with a Hero is an opportunity for the business community of Oceanside to come together with the military community to say thanks,” said retired Marine and Oceanside Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee chairman Chip Dykes. “We get Marines and Sailors out here from Camp Pendleton and pair them up with a business owner from the community and just let them play golf.”

The Chamber, which puts on the event, surprised the troops with special guest Mike Chiesl, a former Marine, Iraq War veteran and TV show "Survivor" contestant.

“Every year it gets bigger and better — this year we have more and more Marines out and an awesome charity,” said event organizer Jacque Martin. “It’s an event that we put a lot of work into and when were out here, it’s just an awesome day.

The Operation Bigs program, which is this year’s event beneficiary, helps provide the children of military personnel mentorship and guidance, and offers their services to all five elementary schools inside aboard the Marine Corps base.

“We provide big brothers and sisters who meet with them once a week to provide individual support and attention, which really goes a long way to help families out when a parent is deployed or just getting back from deployment,” said Big Bothers Big Sisters of San Diego program manager Bonnie Campbell.

“It’s awesome and we really appreciate everybody putting this together for us,” said Sgt. Brandon Williamson,” as he readied himself to tee off.  “It’s a good day for golfing.”

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