Spots Available to Golf for Charity on Birdie Day

You don't need your wallet to play a round of golf at or on Sunday, but they do want a 15-pound frozen turkey.

Birdie Day benefits Gleaners food bank and is so popular that all 180 spots at The Majestic are already reserved. There are still spaces locally at Hartland Glen (248-887-3777), Whispering Pines (734-878-0009) in Pinckney and Mystic Creek (248-684-3333) in Milford.

The five golf courses in the Oakland County Parks and Recreation system also are participating, including Lyon Oaks (248-437-9200) in Lyon Township and White Lake Oaks (248-698-2700) in White Lake.

In addition, the Majestic also hosts a turkey dinner from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. that day. Cost is $7 for children and $10 for adults. Proceeds always go to benefit someone in need in the community and this year the aid will benefit the family of Hartland High School junior Kendal Lividini, who is battling cancer. In the past, the dinner has raised anywhere between $1,000 and $2,500. 

"Hopefully … we can give them a little relief," said Bill Fountain, operating partner at The Majestic. "Every year we want to do something to give back."

Birdie Day started 14 years ago at The Majestic and was modeled after a similar charity event in Idaho, said Fountain, who also is Hartland Township's supervisor. Not that it's necessarily ideal golf weather, though. Temperatures are forecasted for the high 40s on Sunday — still above average for this time of year. Fountain said they have played in snow and they only had to cancel it one year when the cart paths were too icy for play after an overnight rain froze over.

But, he said, the event is more about the idea of giving back to the community, he said.

"It sets the the tone for what the holiday season is all about," Fountain said.