10th Annual Fla Chapter Golf Tournament a Success

The 10th Annual Foundation's Florida Chapter golf tournament went off without a hitch Friday, May 9 leaving Tournament Chair "Red" Carpenter and his small staff of volunteers breathing a sigh of relief. The 2014 field of golfers was reduced to 66 this year, possibly due to "snow birds" heading north a bit early thanks to  prolonged winter storms.  Whatever the reason, the tournament was deemed a success and the Foundation's coffers will be again enriched, this time by $4,000. The real winners, however, will be the Injured Marines Semper Fi Fund as well as the Foundation scholarship funds when Board approval is made for these contributions at the Oceanside conference in September. Getting this year's event off the ground was not the easiest of ventures.  Fortunately, the weather was perfect as was the Ridgewood Lakes Golf Club course; a bit unlike last year's conditions where rains nearly cancelled the tournament at the very last minute.  Also, the committee has been fortunate each year to secure the services of the Marine color guard from Orlando's 4th MT Battalion.  This year, partly due to budget cuts and other requirements, the committee did not know until a day before the tournament that the popular unit would be available. Carpenter praised the efforts of the small volunteer force that helped make the tournament a success.  His "work force" consisted of Hank Ehlbeck, Allen Moore, Kevin Doll, Kate Stark, Ann Carpenter and Jack and Pat Paxton.