Enumclaw Chamber Sees Green From Tourney

The Enumclaw Chamber of Commerce is hitting a hole-in-one with its Annual Golf Classic Wednesday, Aug. 3, at the Enumclaw Golf Course.

A record 31 teams have entered the tournament, which raises about $10,000 each year.

“This year it’s our biggest fund-raiser – bigger than the auction,” chamber executive director Tracey McCallum said Tuesday.

The money raised is even more important this year as the chamber has seen its funding from the city drop from $30,000 in 2008 to $12,000 last year to nothing this year. On top of that, two events the chamber helped co-sponsor last year – Octoberfest and the Wine and Chocolate Festival – the city is applying for its own event license this year.

McCallum said she does not want the chamber to compete with the city for events, but would rather work with the city. She hopes to meet with city representatives soon to try to work things out.

The chamber it having to come up with new funding ideas so it can remain active and keep membership costs down. The new Thunder on the Plateau motorcycle rally is planned for Aug. 27, and a beer garden is planned for a car show in September to pick up the slack and keep the chamber afloat.

“Every event is critical,” McCallum said, adding the nonprofit chamber is the oldest in the state, starting in 1902. It brought in 65 new members last year, she said.

The golf event will start at 1 p.m. with a shotgun start. Various prizes will be given away along with a fun pack, lunch and barbecue dinner. Four-person teams paid $320 each for 18 holes of golf. Sponsors have stepped up for each hole and for a variety of other reasons, from dessert to the beer tent.  

Money raised goes for chamber activities to make sure they remain free to the community.

“We’re struggling,” McCallum said. “We’re at a pivotal point this summer.”