The Duneland Education Foundation is hosting the 25th annual Dunes Golf Classic on Saturday, July 18 at The Brassie Golf Club in Chesterton and celebrating the history of the event.

The first Classic was organized by Mike Grubb in 1981 and held at Forest Park Golf Course in Valparaiso for the next sixteen years. Mike thought a low cost community golf tournament would be a fun event each summer. Traditions started then are still holding strong today. Players choose the flight they will join based on the score they might shoot and “Predict Your Score” has golfers who predict correctly receiving a Classic golf ball. Participants received a light lunch and a door prize ticket. The tournament quickly gained popularity, resulting in a few years with more than 100 golfers.

At the Forest Park site, there were several multiple winners of the Championship Flight. Chuck Craycraft won five times, Tom Aylmer won three consecutive years in 1989 through 1991 and Jeff Ryan has won twice. There have been three Sudden Death winners, including Mike Grubb who won this event in 1982.

Jan Yoder has been a multiple winner, winning the Championship Flight in 1976, the First Flight in 1987 and 1991, the Second Flight in 1985 and the Senior Flight in 2001 and 2002. Bob Dille, Sr., who has been a volunteer Classic committee member, is also a multiple winner. Bob won the First Flight in 1982 and the Senior Flight in 2006 and 2007. His score of 74 is a tournament record.

In the Women’s Division, Pam Babcock is the only three time winner, having won in 1995, 1996 and 2006. Two time winners include Mimi Mitchell, Elaine Pell, Julie Leonard and Mary Pomeroy.

After a few years without the Dunes Golf Classic, it moved to The Brassie. They inherited the sponsorship of the hole in one contest after The Flagstick Golf Shop was no longer in business and have helped promote the tournament to their members.

Since 1981, there have been hundreds of local golfers who have benefited from the dedication of Mike Grubb and the volunteer committee to the Dunes Golf Classic. What began as a community event for them has continued as a tournament that also benefits students in the Duneland community. As host of the Classic and recipient of event proceeds, the Duneland Education Foundation awards grants each year to teachers in the Duneland School Corporation and St. Patrick schools. The grants enable the creation of new or enhancement of current classroom projects and programs.

The Classic tradition continues this year with golfers choosing their flights, predicting their scores, receiving door prizes and celebrating the 25th anniversary with a dinner and awards ceremony following the 1:00 shotgun start event.

To request a registration form, please contact the Duneland Education Foundation at 983-3715 or foundation@duneland.k12.in.us

Forms are also available at The Brassie and will appear periodically as a public service announcement in the Chesterton Tribune.

For additional Classic information or if you would like to be a sponsor or donate a door prize, please contact John Kroft at 929-1976.

Posted 6/30/2009