The ninth fairway honors past service members. Photo by Ted Apodaca
They were stacking up extra teams on the tee boxes for a shotgun start. The tournament had 152 entries for 144 spots, so they needed to wedge in some groups somewhere. But these were good problems to have for the 3rd Annual Fairways of Honor Golf Tournament, hosted by the Sons of the American Legion Post 291 in Newport Beach.
The event serves as a fundraiser for the community support programs the post contributes to or organizes. SAL 291 Commander Tim Sullivan said that the group is able to give out approximately $100,000 each year to community and veterans groups and that they were estimating that this year’s golf tournament would raise approximately $40,000, about double what it raised in its first year.
The tournament itself is a scramble, meaning that groups play for a team score, which levels the playing field a bit. There are extra prizes for individual play, including a Ford Bronco for anyone who happens to hit a hole-in-one on a designated hole. After the event there is a dinner, live band and prize giveaway party.
“It’s about drinking and eating and raising money for veterans and that’s really, it’s just having fun,” Sullivan said.
Before the noon shotgun start (all groups tee off simultaneously from different tees) there was a putting contest that offered a $5,000 prize for making a 60-foot putt as well as info booths and a 50/50 raffle run by the local Newport Harbor High cheerleaders. One of the groups that was supported by SAL 291 was Veterans Resource Fund, a group that offers paddleboard excursions for veterans in wheelchairs. The wheelchairs are strapped to the board, which is a heavy-duty pontoon style and almost impossible to tip over. SAL 291 donated $5,000 to them to help their program, Sullivan said.
“So yeah, that’s one of our favorite things so we invited them out here,” Sullivan said.
Thirteen flags and a battle cross memorial for the last 13 service members (11 Marines, a Navy medic and a Army Staff Sgt.) lost in Afghanistan. Photo by Ted Apodaca
Among the pre-tournament exhibits is a banner with the names of all service members lost in Iraq and Afghanistan. There was also a plaque and 13 flags honoring the last 13 service members lost in Afghanistan in August of 2021.
The ninth fairway was lined with signs honoring service members. The signs were purchased as a fundraiser by tournament participants to honor family members who once served in the armed forces. In addition to veterans support, SAL 291 has also helped build community events.
“We’ve created two holidays in the park for Newport Beach, Flag Day and 9/11 Patriot Day, as a public giveaway,” Sullivan said.
The Saturday tournament kicked off the Memorial Day weekend. On Monday, SAL 291 and American Legion Post 291, like many others, honored those who gave all and then celebrated them with a family BBQ event, because we must never forget.
The American Legion Post 291 Honor Guard conducted the Presentation of the Colors prior to the start of the tournament. Pictured from left, AL 1st Vice Commander Brian Fleming Jr., Jim Shumar, 2nd Vice Commander Ray Ricard, Travis Story and Faryl Fletcher.Photo by Ted Apodaca
Pictured from left, Glen Mills, Leslie LeBrum, Donna Morrissey, Tim Sullivan and Lindsey Balko. Photo by Ted Apodaca
Once again our SAL Commander for Post 291, Tim Sullivan and all of the amazing donors “knock it out of the park.” Thank you to all participants and donors.