Habitat Golf Classic Celebrates 10 Years

Under sunny skies and comfy temperatures, the 10th annual Habitat Golf Classic featured its share of PGA-worthy play, as well as a few golfer-bonding “great shot, wrong fairway” moments. Early-bird players were up and at ’em at 6:45 a.m. for registration and continental breakfast, ready to take on Glenmoor Country Club’s Pete Dye-designed course to benefit Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver. In the end, it wasn’t so much about scoring, but enjoying a fun day on a beautiful golf course…along with the winning collaboration between host sponsor Habitat Interfaith Alliance and Habitat Metro Denver.

Event chair Rob Ayers eyes the hole-in-one prize provided by HM Brown.

Once participants received goody bags and grabbed breakfast-to-go, they loaded up golf carts for a shotgun start at 7:45. The round featured a number of hole prizes, including a hole-in-one car from HM Brown. Krank Golf’s rep Christie Banowetz was stationed at the “Krank-It Hole,” giving players the opportunity to make a Habitat donation. In return, golfers were able to hit a Krank driver off the tee and no matter where they hit the ball, their official tournament landing was at the standing world record of 483 yards. If the team managed to send their second shot into the hole: double eagle.

Scott Bates, Habitat Interfaith Alliance chair, takes a minute to enjoy the gorgeous morning as golfers make their way to the first tee.

Rob Ayers served as event chair and tournament participant, and Habitat Interfaith Alliance chair Scott Bates handled operations. After their round, golfers could finalize their silent-auction bids before settling down for a hearty brunch prepared by Glenmoor CC culinary pros, and find out whose scores stood up to the competition. Special thanks were given to sponsors, staff and volunteers, along with Steve Beach and Faye Whade of Glenmoor CC, and Lisa Chamberlain of Corporate and Golf Resources.

With representatives from 14 congregations in metro Denver, Habitat Interfaith Alliance is a group of dedicated souls who bring together people of Jewish, Catholic, Protestant and Unitarian Universalist faiths to do God’s work as a team. The organization’s annual goal is raising funds for all the building materials for one Habitat home in Denver and another in a developing country (via Habitat’s Tithe Program). The Habitat Golf Classic is a major fundraising component for this year’s Denver build–a three-bedroom, two-story townhome for a single mom and her four daughters. To date, HIA has built 12 homes in Denver. For more information, please visit: www.hiadenver.org.

In 2014, Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver celebrates 35 years as a Habitat for Humanity affiliate, consistently recognized as a top producer and leader in green-energy homes. The organization completed its 500th home in metro Denver in November, 2012. Habitat Metro Denver is the fifth affiliate to tithe $1 million to Habitat in other countries—more than 600 homes have been built internationally. The organization continues to set challenging schedules and milestones for every year. Every 10 minutes another Habitat home is completed somewhere in the world and volunteers account for the majority of labor to build these homes, helping keep mortgages for the new homeowners affordable. For more information, please visit: www.habitatmetrodenver.org.