The Children's Museum in Easton's Family Golf Tournament a Swinging Success

This past Columbus Day, October 13, marked the 10^th successful year of The Children’s Museum in Easton’s Play FORE! Kids Family Golf Tournament. Despite the chilly October air, the event drew 100 golfers including grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, kids, friends of the Museum and local golf enthusiasts.

We sat down with several first-time participants to discuss their experience at the tournament. John Mullen, Museum member and father of two, was the winner of the Putting Contest with the only sunk putt. Mullen tells us, with a wink, that he can’t wait to return next year, “If I’m invited!”

Sam and his family showing off their raffle prizes. 

Samuel Schumacher, age 10, one of the winners of the Kids Chipping Contest at 23 inches to the pin, also won two raffle prizes. Jared Clapp, also 10, has been playing golf for about five years. Jared was the winner of the Kids Chipping Contest on the front 9, and says that his favorite part of the tournament is the raffle.

Finally, we talked with Michelle Casey, a new committee member this year, about the successes and even the difficulties that come with planning the tournament. Casey stresses the importance of spreading the word about this family-friendly event to new families: “[It] is such a fun event. We had so many new families this year, and they all loved it.” Casey’s three boys are now ages 7, 8 and 9, but used to visit the Museum all the time. Casey explains that her favorite part of the tournament is the family time—and the firework display that concludes the night.

The winning team, with a score of 7 under par for the 9-hole event was the Rubin Foursome. Second and third place were decided by a one-hole “card-off!” The Riley Foursome finished in second place with five under par, and the Bissonette Foursome took home the third place title.

Lucas Riley giving it his best shot at the Chipping Contest.

Matthew Orphanos is all smiles on the green.

The night produced several individual contest winners. The winners of the longest putt on the front and back 9 went to Frank Meissner and Mark Bissonette, respectively. The winners of the Closest to the Pin Contest were Ryan Riley and Mark Lombardi. The titles of Straightest Drive went to both Mike Stecker and Rich Kerr. And finally, the winners of the Kids Chipping Contest were Jared Clapp and Samuel Schumacher, both age 10.

This annual event raises funds that support not only Museum admissions and programs, but also the Museum’s outreach and service to needy and under-served families in the Metro South region. This year, more than 40 sponsors from the Easton and greater Brockton area business community showed their support by helping with the expenses of running the tournament.  More than 50 area venues, sports teams, resorts, restaurants and service companies donated goods and services for the raffle that preceded the firework show at the conclusion of the night.

The Casey Boys get ready to chip.

The Museum would like to thank Evolution Sports Performance of Easton, Sharon and Kingston, MA for their sponsorship of the fireworks display—one of the most popular moments of the night, as well as the many sponsoring businesses and families. For the full list of our sponsors click here. The Museum would also like to extend its thanks to everyone that came out in support of the Museum and its family-fun event. We hope to see some new faces next year for another swinging day of golf FORE! kids.

*Written by Deanna Haas, PR Intern