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ForeAbility back in the swing as RMA fundraiser

After the disappointment of last year’s cancellation, ForeAbility, Rocky Mountain Adaptive’s (RMA) annual golf tournament, is back and better than ever this year.

After the disappointment of last year’s cancellation, ForeAbility, Rocky Mountain Adaptive’s (RMA) annual golf tournament, is back and better than ever this year.

Ian Hipkins, RMA’s president and tournament chair, said a year off gave organizers a chance to fine-tune how the tournament is run – moving from an early morning, mid-week start to an 11:30 a.m. tee-off on Friday, Sept. 22 at Silvertip Golf Course.

ForeAbility is one of the charity’s biggest fundraisers and Hipkins said that while the organization felt the pinch financially last year, there seems to be renewed interest from individuals and businesses in the community, with $175 of every $250 registration fee coming right back to RMA.

“We’re truly hoping it will be a record year,” he said.

An anonymous donor has also committed to give 100 per cent of green fees back to the organization.

As of writing, 75 individuals had registered for the 2017 tournament, with the goal in mind being 100 golfers.

Included in the tournament fee is a welcome coffee, lunch voucher, green fees, and a full dinner featuring guest speaker and Alberta Sports Hall of Fame inductee Rob MacDermott, a double amputee and champion golfer.

The $1 million shootout isn’t something to sneeze at either.

Everyone can qualify by taking one drive at a par three, with the five closest to the pin being finalists for the big prize.

From there comes the bigger challenge: sinking a hole-in-one on the 18th hole at Silvertip – if they do that, they walk away with $1 million.

“It’s a combination of the shot of a lifetime and a little bit of luck,” said Hipkins. “Imagine this gallery; everyone is standing there, cheering on these five gals or guys,” he said.

“You’d probably hear the cheers from downtown.”

Throughout the day, players can compete for other prizes in various adaptive challenges such as a one-armed drive, a blindfolded putt and the “in the drink” challenge where golfers take aim at a kayak floating in the 10th hole water trap; whoever gets their ball in the kayak wins it.

The adaptive competitions are ways for participants to experience some of the challenges facing users of RMA’s services.

Serving the Bow Valley year-round, RMA is a world-class organization that offers equipment, lessons, programs and “experiences” for individuals with various disabilities, from kids to adults; their underlying mandate being to make all sports accessible for everyone.

Relying mainly on the support of over 50 volunteers, funds raised by ForeAbility go toward maintaining RMA program operations and purchasing equipment such as sit skis, hand cycles and TrailRiders – chairs designed to take users along some of the toughest of mountain hikes.

“They use (RMA) to get people to some amazing places, get things off their bucket lists,” said Hipkins.

RMA is still accepting donations and sponsorships for the tournament, and golfers can register online at rockymountainadaptive.com/foreability.

“The focus is on fun, meeting people, and getting to know more about what we do,” said Hipkins.


Rocky Mountain Outlook

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