Golf Classic Sept. 21 set to raise money for unfunded Bigfork High School athletics
Eagle Bend will host the first Bigfork High School Golf Classic Sept. 21 to raise money for high school athletics.
Almost half of Bigfork athletics aren’t funded by taxpayer dollars, including cross country, soccer, swimming, golf and wrestling.
While some call those club sports, Bigfork High School activities director Dave Creamer clarified that they are still official sports as part of the Montana High School Association, they just don’t receive funding from the school, and must come up with money elsewhere.
The school once funded some of those sports such as soccer and golf, before Bigfork switched from Class A to Class B a few years ago.
Rather than cut the programs when funding vanished, Bigfork High School coaches and parents banded together to raise the money to keep those sports alive, and so far they have, though fundraising isn’t always easy in a town that is frequently hammered for donations.
“The community has been pretty supportive,” Creamer said. “But it doesn’t mean it’s easy.”
It costs between $10,000 and $12,000 a year for a sport, Creamer said. The cost includes, state association fees, travel expenses, uniforms, equipment, coaches’ salaries and more.
Each sport has various ways they work to raise the funds for their programs. Soccer will hold a car wash at Whistling Andy’s on Labor Day weekend. The cross-country team held their annual 5K walk and run over the summer. And traditionally the golf team has held a small tournament at Eagle Bend.
This year Tom Clary and Mike Wynne of Eagle Bend suggested that the tournament be made bigger, with the hope of being able to provide funds to more than just golf.
After the $10,000 is raised to pay for the golf team, the remaining money will distributed among other unfunded programs by the Bigfork Booster Club.
Creamer pointed out that it would only take one season where a program couldn’t scrape together the necessary funds, to end that sport for Bigfork.
While he suspects that Bigfork offers more sports than most other Class B schools, Creamer sees a value to Bigfork athletics.
“We place a pretty high value on activities,” Creamer said. “We feel like it’s such a good opportunity for the kids to grow and develop character.”
Organizers are hoping to field 36 four-person teams for the scramble, 18-hole tournament. The cost is $100 a player or $400 for a team. The fee includes green fees, a golf cart, balls and dinner Saturday night at the Harbor Village Pavilion. Non-registered golfers are welcome to attend the dinner at a cost of $25 a plate. Registration ends Sept. 10. Contact Patricia Landon at 261-0786 for more information.
Anyone wishing to donate may mail a check payable to the Bigfork Booster Club, P.O. Box, Bigfork MT 59911.