Snow Golf & Family Fun Day raises more than $2,500 for Pine Tree Hospice

    DOVER-FOXCROFT — A snow storm three days prior made for perfect conditions at the 2014 Snow Golf & Family Fun Day, which was held at Foxcroft Golf Club on Feb. 8 and netted more than $2,500 for Pine Tree Hospice — a volunteer hospice that receives no federal, state, or insurance funding.

    Twelve twosomes braved temperatures in the low teens to compete in the nine-hole golf scramble, in which golf balls were replaced with tennis balls, holes were replaced with hula hoops, and players were allowed to tee off with a tennis racket on each hole (save number nine, which featured the long drive contest). Bob Bradford and Chuck Libby fired a 33 to edge Ethan Annis and Dan Rosebush for this year’s title while Matt Kinney and Erica Peterson earned prizes for launching the longest male and female drive on hole nine.
    Nor’easter was the Judges’ Choice in the Chili Cookoff while defending champ Spring Creek took home the People’s Choice Award. The contest, which was judged by Tom Goulette, Bob Ade and Melinda Wentworth, also featured strong entries from Flatlanders, Lakeshore House and Hobnobbers.
    The money raised at this year’s tournament fell shy of the $3,465 netted last year, likely a product of the cold weather. “I wish the turnout had been a bit bigger,” said Jane Stitham, executive director of Pine Tree Hospice. “But I am grateful for those who supported our cause and certainly understand that not everyone wants to spend their Saturday outdoors in weather like this.”
    Stitham was quick to thank the many people who came together to make this event happen: most notably, Foxcroft Golf Course for hosting the event; Annis for spending several days plowing the parking lot and packing down the fairways; the chili chefs and judges; the golfers; the families that took part in the children’s activities; student volunteers from the Foxcroft Academy and PCHS Key Clubs, who ran the children’s games, took photographs, and helped clean up; the promotional efforts of the FA communications team; all the generous Pine Tree Hospice volunteers and staff, who always go way beyond the call of duty; and all the individuals and businesses that provided in-kind donations or sponsorships.
    “I’m grateful for everyone who helped make this a wonderful community event once again,” said Stitham. “The revenue generated from Snow Golf and other fundraising events goes a long way in helping us provide support throughout the 39 towns in our service area to individuals experiencing a progressive, life-limiting illness as well as to their families and caregivers.”