By Jim Hunt for the News and Journal
I had the opportunity to participate in a wonderful event called the “Party with a
Purpose”, at the Pete Dye Golf Club recently. It is put on by the Medbrook Children’s
Charity, which is the brainchild of Dr. Kelly Nelson who has led this effort since 2000. It
seems inaccurate to call this a charity golf event when it is so much more. The beautiful
Pete Dye Golf Club is the setting, and it is unlike any event I have ever seen. As you
head to your starting hole, you get a sense that this will be less about golf and more
about fun and excitement. Colorful tents are set up throughout the course and local
restaurants and businesses are ready with delicious sandwiches and refreshments
along with an assortment of games to raise money for a great cause. A constant
presence throughout the day is Dr. Kelly Nelson, making sure things are moving along
and everyone is enjoying themselves.
While I am an occasional golfer, I love experiencing the outdoors and the beauty of the
finely manicured fairways and greens and the Pete Dye Golf Club has plenty of that to
offer. As we approached one of the more difficult holes, I noticed that the Rotary Club
was conducting a contest where you would wear “beer goggles” to hit your drive. For
those who have never experienced this, the goggles make everything move around you
and when I looked down at my ball, there were four of them to choose from. I took a
mighty swing and luckily hit one of my better shots. Unfortunately, I had to endure the
ribbing from my partners, who suggested that I must play better when I have had a few
too many beers!
The food was plentiful throughout the course, and I even had time for a steak sandwich
and lobster from the Wonder Bar Restaurant, which was one of the sponsors. There
was also a skeet shooting area at one of the holes and I got to experience how to miss
three clay targets in a row. No worries though, it is for a good cause. The loudest hole
was Number 7, where a DJ was playing, and an assortment of activities were going on.
We used it as an excuse to take a break and watch as golfers were donating for a
chance to hit a ball in a group of plastic buckets in a sand trap for a prize. Two young
ladies from Morgantown were doing a gymnastics display on a ring suspended over the
tee box and I asked them if they do this regularly at golf courses. They laughed and said
this was a first for them.
The day could not have gone better and knowing that the money was being raised to
help children in our community made it worthwhile. It was also nice to see Dr. Kelly
Nelson enjoying himself at an event he began almost 25 years ago. I can remember
seeing him on occasion at Medbrook when I had the flu or needed a shot, and his
cheerful demeanor stood out to me. Having these local heroes in our community is what
makes our area an amazing place to live. Hats off to the Board of Directors of the
Medbrook Children’s Charity and the dozens of volunteers who made this a “Party with
a Purpose”!