26th annual Chili Open tees off Feb. 25
Annual Rotary Club of Strongsville event to raise money for children’s charities
George Schindler was in a spring type of mind at the 2015 Chili Open. Temperatures reached the 20s, but it did not deter the avid golfer from donning shorts. The chance for a snow-covered course is minimal in 2017 with forecasts calling for partly sunny skies and temperatures approaching 40. Photo by TERRY BRLAS
STRONGSVILLE – It might not be a field of white and temperatures might not be bone numbing, but a late winter tradition invades the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds in Berea on Saturday, Feb. 25 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.
The Rotary Club of Strongsville’s 26th Chili Open Charity Golf Classic will once again give golfers a leg up on the season.
The weather this winter has been mild, to say the least, and the forecast for the last Saturday in February looks to be partly sunny with a high around 40 degrees. But snow or no snow, the keyword is fun.
“The worse the conditions are for golf the better it is. It’s fun to freeze your butt off for an hour or two and then come in to warm up,” said Ken McEntee, Rotary Club of Strongsville president.
Golf is only a conduit to raising money for area nonprofit organizations. There is much more to the event then beating a round, dimpled ball, although a hole-in-one could win you a lease of a vehicle from Medina Auto Mall.
All-you-can-eat food and beverages and a live celebrity auction inside the main building is where most of the action takes place.
“Golf is just a part of the event. It’s the fun, it’s the food, it’s the auction and we have great raffles. We have a lot of great prizes. There’s plenty to do even if you don’t golf,” McEntee said.
Auctioneers scheduled to volunteer this year include WKYC TV meteorologist Betsy Kling, Mike Snyder from WTAM radio and Jimmy Malone from WMJI radio. Auctioneer Bob Hale will be back to keep the show moving.
The Chili Open has raised more than $2 million for charity in its 25 years. The Rotary Club made the decision to focus on children’s charities in 2017. These include Camp Cheerful, Hope for Honduran Children, The Up Side of Downs, Applewood Centers and Easter Seals of Northern Ohio.
Visit www.chiliopen.org to purchase tickets or for more information or call McEntee at 440-238-6603. Online pre-registration is available for $35, or $140 for a foursome until February 23. Tickets are $45 at the door.
The Rotary Club of Strongsville’s 26th Chili Open Charity Golf Classic will once again give golfers a leg up on the season.
The weather this winter has been mild, to say the least, and the forecast for the last Saturday in February looks to be partly sunny with a high around 40 degrees. But snow or no snow, the keyword is fun.
“The worse the conditions are for golf the better it is. It’s fun to freeze your butt off for an hour or two and then come in to warm up,” said Ken McEntee, Rotary Club of Strongsville president.
Golf is only a conduit to raising money for area nonprofit organizations. There is much more to the event then beating a round, dimpled ball, although a hole-in-one could win you a lease of a vehicle from Medina Auto Mall.
All-you-can-eat food and beverages and a live celebrity auction inside the main building is where most of the action takes place.
“Golf is just a part of the event. It’s the fun, it’s the food, it’s the auction and we have great raffles. We have a lot of great prizes. There’s plenty to do even if you don’t golf,” McEntee said.
Auctioneers scheduled to volunteer this year include WKYC TV meteorologist Betsy Kling, Mike Snyder from WTAM radio and Jimmy Malone from WMJI radio. Auctioneer Bob Hale will be back to keep the show moving.
The Chili Open has raised more than $2 million for charity in its 25 years. The Rotary Club made the decision to focus on children’s charities in 2017. These include Camp Cheerful, Hope for Honduran Children, The Up Side of Downs, Applewood Centers and Easter Seals of Northern Ohio.
Visit www.chiliopen.org to purchase tickets or for more information or call McEntee at 440-238-6603. Online pre-registration is available for $35, or $140 for a foursome until February 23. Tickets are $45 at the door.