Just over 100 people are preparing to hit the links for the 27th annual Golf Fore Nova Vita tournament at the Brantford Golf and Country Club on Tuesday, August 13, 2024.
Registration will begin at 9:30 a.m. and 104 golfers will kick off the 18-hole scramble style tournament at 11:00 a.m. with a shotgun start.
The Golf Fore Nova Vita fundraising tournament is held every year in an effort to raise essential funds and awareness for the local organization.
All proceeds from the tournament will go directly to support the organization’s vital programs and services which are available to all members of the community impacted by violence and homelessness.
“This year, we’re looking to raise between $30,000 to $32,000 of net revenue to directly support our programs and services. The money raised from the tournament as a whole is going to go towards making sure that all needs are met,” said Anne Herbison-Ruddell, Community Development Manager of Nova Vita Domestic Violence Prevention Services. “It kind of works like a triage in the sense it really starts with supporting the emergency shelter, and then it looks at our housing and outreach, our second stage housing, and then what’s happening with our children’s program so that we can make sure we have counselors. When you support the tournament, it’s really supporting those core programs and services, and so we’re so thankful for everyone who is involved and we’ve already gotten a really great head start with this year’s sponsors. I think between all of them, we’re looking at about $10,000 to 12,000 and so we’re on our way.”
Herbison-Ruddell, said that the $260 cost per person to play (or $1,040 per foursome) includes a golf cart, a “grab and go” breakfast, a $25 charitable tax receipt, gift bag, FUNdraiser purse (includes entry to all on-course games and contests) and access to the awards ceremony and reception dinner.
During last year’s event, Kelly Rudney, a three-time World Long Drive Champion, currently ranked number two in the world, was onsite to give a helping hand to players, however this year, Rudney will be unable to make it.
With that being said, Herbison-Ruddell said that players will still get a chance to receive assistance from the champion during their game.
“Kelly still wants to give the golfers a helping hand,” she said. “So on that particular hole, you can purchase her drive for $20, and you can move your team’s ball to her longest drive which is a record of 385 yards.”
As the tournament wraps up, golfers will head indoors to continue mingling, participate in the silent auction and enjoy a light dinner while learning a bit more about how their participation will help Nova Vita and those who use its services.
During the reception, prizes will be awarded for closest to the pin, the putting contest hole-in-one, lowest score, and much more. For the putting contest, this year’s big prize is a round trip air for seven nights in Hawaii (Royal Kona Resort), courtesy of TravelBrands rands and Marlin Travel Brantford.
At the event, golfers will also have a chance to support the organization’s “Mowers and Blowers” campaign. By donating $40, golfers will be able to help Nova Vita purchase much needed shovels, a new snowblower and a new lawn mower.
“This year, the focus on the golf tournament is that Nova Vita is truly more than a bed; providing safety to all of our guests is essential for both the interior and the exterior of our building. Last year, we saw over 987 clients visit our location to access our vital programs and services, and that doesn’t even include the daily visitors of donors, volunteers and trades to Nova Vita,” said Herbison-Ruddell. “To keep our guests safe, we keep our driveways and pathways clear, maintained and tended with dignity. Just like at your own home, our building and equipment experience wear and tear, and so this year, our golfers can help by joining us in raising $4,000 to purchase new exterior maintenance equipment. The support of our Mower and Blowers campaign will ensure that our exterior building continues to be safe and welcoming, and doesn’t take away from funding for our vital programs and services.”
Herbison-Ruddell said that overall, the day is about spreading awareness, having fun and raising money for an important cause.
“It’s just an amazing day where you get to golf at a great exclusive course, hopefully win some cool prizes and learn a bit more about not just Nova Vita, but the culture of the community that wraps its arms around Nova Vita. I hope that when people leave the tournament, they really get a greater sense of hope and some new found information to help them make better choices in their own lives,” she said. “We’re all humans, we all need help at some point and when you look at the statistics, there isn’t anybody that we know or a family member that hasn’t been touched by homelessness or domestic violence. I think the more we can talk about it comfortably and know that it happens, know why it happens, and know that we can work to stop it from happening, we get closer to where we need to be.”
As of Tuesday, July 30, Herbison-Ruddell said that there’s only room for one foursome left, but for people wanting to get involved, they can contact Nova Vita to donate prizes. If anyone has missed the chance to play in this year’s tournament, Herbison-Ruddell says they should keep an eye out on their social media accounts for next year’s big event.
“This year, we decided to limit the event to104 golfers so that the tournament plays well,” she said. “If you missed the chance to sign up for this year and want to play in 2025, know that as soon as the golf courses start to open, that’s when you want to start looking out for registration.”
Kimberly De Jong’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.The funding allows her to report rural and agricultural stories from Blandford-Blenheim and Brant County. Reach her at kimberly.dejong@brantbeacon.ca.
