The 2019 Blackhawk Scramble Golf Tournament is just around the corner, providing supporters of Cheney High School not only the chance to get in 18-rounds of fun followed by a barbecue, but also support local athletics and academics at the same time.
The Blackhawk was created 15 years ago and after a brief hiatus, was picked up by the Cheney Kiwanis Club six years ago as a fundraiser to help support the club’s scholarship program. This year’s event takes place Sunday, May 19, at the Fairways Golf Course with an 8 a.m. shotgun start.
“We’ve been cooperating with the high school since then to make it a go,” Kiwanis member and CHS alum Tom Whitfield said.
Whitfield said the fundraiser experiences good business support locally, and is now looking more for players, although sponsors are always gladly accepted. The Blackhawks topped out with one of its largest turnouts several years ago when 80 players took part, but has since seen participation dwindle.
“We could handle up to 144 players,” Whitfield said Fairways officials told him. “We have lots of room for players this year.”
Fairways general manager Kris Kallem said the course survived the winter quite well and is “very healthy.”
“Superintendent Ryan Pitkonen and his crew worked real hard on drainage and it’s paid off,” Kallem said in an April 30 email. “We were told yesterday (April 29) by a customer who plays all the Spokane-area courses that our greens are the best in the area by far.”
Participation in the Blackhawk runs $75 per person. That price buys a round of golf and a catered barbecue afterwards — grilled cheddar burgers with “all the fixins’” Kallem said — with prizes given away via raffle drawings.
After costs are taken care of, Whitfield said half of the proceeds will towards helping Cheney High School athletics with the other half paying for Kiwanis scholarships given each year to graduating seniors. Scholarship amounts have varied, but Whitfield said this year they plan on either distributing two, $1,000 awards or one, $2,000 award, depending on who applies and other factors.
“It’s a fun day of golf for a great cause and we need to continue growing support of our event with the Cheney community,” Kallem added.
Kiwanis scholarships are awarded based on the applicant’s academic efforts, after school activities and community service.
“Over the years, we’ve raised thousands of dollars,” Whitfield said.
Registration for the Blackhawk Scramble can be made by calling the Fairways at (509) 747-8418. The Fairways is located at 9810 W. Melville Road just east of Four Lakes off State Route 904.
John McCallum can be reached at [email protected].
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