Nonprofit to Host Inaugural Golf Outing, Dinner Party

Local golfers might want to polish their clubs this weekend.

is hosting its inaugural “Tee It Up” golf outing and after-party on Friday, July 29.

Registration ended July 22, but Board President Phil Carmody said entries would likely be received into next week. They’re hoping to get as many as 144 golfers for the first-time event.

The River Forest nonprofit offers support and programs for the developmentally disabled community, including recreation, fitness, hobby development and self-advocacy training.

The price for a single golfer is $150, or $600 for a group of four, which includes a lunch buffet by Buona Beef from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., 18 holes of golf at the Willow Crest Golf Club, an open bar and silent auction, as well as a “Hole in One” dinner buffet catered by the Oak Brook Hills Marriott.

Tickets for just the dinner party are $60 and include the dinner buffet, open bar and access to the contests and raffles.

The golf kicks off with a shotgun start in scramble format at 1 p.m. The open bar and silent auction will follow from 7-10 p.m., with dinner at 7 p.m.

The Original Route 66, a band which Carmody said is a “local favorite,” will be playing at the after-party from 8:30-11 p.m., following an 8 p.m. awards ceremony.

Carmody said golfers will be well-fed and hydrated throughout the day, with beverages and snacks included in the registration price.

Some of the various contests include: a putt-putt contest, a “beat the pro” contest, a longest drive challenge and a speed hole on the course that golfers can sign up for and win prizes for the quickest time. A few of the contests will cost an additional fee.

“One contest is a helicopter drop where golfers buy a ball for a set price and then we’re flying a helicopter over the practice green” and dumping them out, Carmody said. “The balls closest to the hole will win a series of prizes.”

Opportunity Knocks, which is completely privately funded, hosts other fundraising events each year, including The OK Classic softball tournament, The OK Chili Cook Off and A Night of Opportunities Gala.

Carmody said they’re hoping to mainly raise awareness through the golf outing and party...and to stay in the black.

“We had initially planned on something that can raise between $15,000 and $20,000, but this year...we just want people to come and have good time and let them know what we’re doing,” he said. “We started out with grand notions, but we want to try to make people happy. We want everybody to have a good time and see what the cause is about.”