Saturday, July 22nd was the third annual Francesville Fall Festival Golf Outing. Held at Moss Creek Golf Course and Banquet Center in rural Winamac, the picture-perfect golf day was a stark contrast to the lightning and thunderstorms that accompanied the 2022 event. Fifteen teams met for a day of golf, fellowship and companionship.
At check-in each team received a Bridgestone e6 or a Callaway Chrome Soft golf ball, golf tees, a Fall Festival poker chip/ball marker and a door prize entry. The opportunity to “bend the rules’ was also offered as teams could purchase Mulligans and/or a Yard Stick with 36” to be applied throughout the golf course to any shot that ended up near the hole.
New this year was a special grand prize of $10,000 towards a brand new golf cart for any golfer lucky/skilled enough to score a hole in one on hole 18. Also available were numerous smaller prizes for a hole in one at the other 3 par 3’s. Three golfers came close as one golfer hit the 18 flagstick, another rolled right over the edge of the cup, and a 3rd’s ball hit inches from the hole!!
The 2023 championship was a runaway as the team captained by Trevor Wildermuth shot a very impressive 46 (-24) for the 18 holes. The team of Lori/Roger Cords claimed 2nd with a score of 52 (-18). Third place was a tie with two teams shooting 53 (-17): the Evan Kruger team and the team of Ryan Abbott.
Skills challenges winners were as follows: the longest drive for women at hole 13 – Janet Haschel, longest drive for men at hole 7 – Trevor Wildermuth, closest to the pin for women at hole 6 – Lori Cords, closest to the pin for men at hole 1 – Luke Pugh. Longest putt for both men and women at hole 12 – Trevor Wildermuth, and closest to the pin at hole 14 for both men and women – Evan Kruger.
At the conclusion of golf, all participants cooled off in the banquet room with an outstanding meal of hamburgers and hotdogs, chips, salad and dessert. Awards were presented and door prize tickets drawn for the many nice prizes.
The Fall Festival Committee would like to thank the following businesses for purchasing hole sponsorships and their support of the outing: Al Breyfogle Family, Alliance Bank, Bane Welker, Chris Schramm for Sheriff, Circle S Farms Solutions, Clear Decision Filtration, Complete Electric, D1 Truck & Trailer Repair & Towing, Disenger Truck Parts & Services Inc., Fratco, FTC Enterprises Inc.,Greenmark Equipment, Greiger’s Motor Sales, Gutwein Insurance, Hardrock Drilling , Hillcrest Dental, Holly Van Der Aaa – Pulaski County Assessor, Indiana Small Plots LLC, Kelly Gaumer – Pulaski County Prosecutor, Kopka Auction Service, Ladybug Cleaners, MacAllister Rentals, Marsha Tetzloff Pulaski County Recorder, The Mellon Family. Salem Township Trustee’s, Novotony & Associates Insurance, Schlatter’s Inc., Schramm Law Group, SJE Equipment Rental, Synergy Labor Solutions, Teresa Bryant Pulaski County Treasurer, Vanguard National Trailer Corp, and West Central Water Management LLC.
Many local citizens and organizations donated gifts which were presented to the door prize winners. A big thanks goes to Al Breyfogle Family, Alliance Bank, CD Embroidery, CJ’s Liquors, Country Color Floral, Cut N Cuddle Dog Grooming, FTC Enterprises Inc., Hardrock Drilling, Kennedy Family Car Wash, Main Street Bakery, Mark Stevens, Marty Neihouser, Maurice “Moose” Kopka, Montgomery Mercantile, Patio Drive-In, Rob Evans, Schlatter’s Inc., Sunrise Harvest Farm, and West Central Water Management.
Special thanks goes to the Fall Festival Organizing Committee members who helped with check-in and throughout the day- Jodie Schlatter, Darlene Mellon and Marty & Angie Neihouser. Moose Kopka deserves special recognition as he did not play and instead supervised hole 18 to witness anyone winning the grand prize.
One final giant thanks to Tony Olson and his staff at Moss Creek. Thanks for the great hospitality and tasty lunch. We will be back next year.
Make plans to play in the 4th annual Francesville Fall Festival Golf Outing!!
