Benefit golf tournaments are in full swing this spring

File Photo Get out of the office - Playing in a benefit golf tournament is the perfect excuse to miss work on a spring day.

Golf tournaments are the perfect excuse for taking a day off from work to spend on the links - and you're helping a good cause at the same time.

Several groups have already scheduled upcoming events as golf tournament season gets into full swing in Chesterfield. They include:

Community Kitchen

Four students from the Center for Leadership and International Relations at James River High School (JRHS) will host a charity golf tournament on Mon., May 14, at Stonehenge Golf and Country Club, to benefit the Community Kitchen under construction at the Central Virginia Foodbank.

JRHS seniors Michael Cooper, Joe Golding, Brian Roquemore and Michael Baggett are arranging this tournament as their end-of year capstone project, a requirement of every student in the leadership program.

From marketing and promotion to recruiting players and soliciting sponsorships, the youths are practicing every aspect of fundraising for a good cause. "I learned about the Foodbank through my church youth group," noted Cooper, who suggested the charity to the rest of the group, "and fighting hunger right here in our own community is a great reason to plan an event like this."

The tournament will kick off with a shotgun start at noon, and will be run in a four-man captain's choice format. Prizes will be awarded, including first, second and third place, as well as fun categories such as "most honest" and "beat the pro." A catered dinner and silent auction will follow for players and their guests.

Sponsorships and auction contributions are currently being accepted. The tournament registration deadline is Apr. 25.

For more information, contact Cooper at 378-3293 or coop13@comcast.net.

Millwood School

Millwood School, in conjunction with Thompson Davis Asset Management and Larry G. McClanahan, will host the 17th Annual Golf Classic at Brandermill Country Club on Mon., May 14.

Registration begins at 10:30 a.m. followed by a putt-off with a $5,000 cash prize. Lunch will be provided by Ledo Pizza. There will be a shotgun start at noon, and the tournament will be run in a four-man captain's choice format. Prizes will be awarded, including first, second, third and last place, as well as a holein one contest and a closest to the line driving contest. The awards dinner will be provided by Carrabba's Italian Grill.

Sponsorships are available, and foursomes are priced at $600. For more information, contact Lisa Bloom at 639-3200 or lbloom@ millwoodschool.org. More information is available on the Millwood School Web site at www.millwoodschool.org.

Meals on Wheels

Proceeds from the Third Annual Sodexho STOP Hunger Golf Classic at Stonehenge Golf and Country Club on Mon., May 21, will benefit Meals on Wheels.

Thirty teams of four will provide 3,000 meals to the homebound. Chesterfield's distribution site at Central Baptist Church on Courthouse Road serves more than 100 residents daily.

To participate, contact Kristin Stokes, 673- 5035 ext. 27 or kstokes@mowdelivers.com.

Chesterfield chamber

The Chesterfield County Chamber of Commerce will host its Third Annual Golf Classic, presented by Medallion Pools and Spas, on Thurs., May 31. A shotgun start is slated for 1 p.m. This year's tournament will be held at the Brandermill Country Club.

Voted one of the five best course layouts in the state by the Virginia Golf Association, the 6,531 yard Brandermill course is designed by golf legend Gary Player, also known as "The Black Knight." Brandermill features a combination of rolling Bermuda fairways, contoured bent grass greens, panoramic views of Swift Creek Reservoir and tree-lined parkways. The par-72 golf course is challenging to golfers of all skill levels.

Sponsorships range from $300 to $1,100. Foursomes are priced at $600. To register or sponsor the tournament, contact Lenita Gilreath at 748-6364.