Footprints on the Green, McConnell Golf’s community engagement program, encourages members and club staff to join forces to give back to the community. The program often encompasses food drives and community service days, but recently participants have contributed by playing golf. A lot of golf.
Golf Marathon Supports Folds of Honor
On May 27, Holston Hills Assistant Professional Joey Batuello played a golf marathon to support Folds of Honor. Staff also participated at CC of Asheville and Old North State Club, and together the sister properties raised over $40,000.
After a “breakfast of champions” complete with “some pre-emptive Advil”, Batuello headed to the club on his day off. He played a total of 180 holes covering a whopping 62,717 yards in 13 hours and 15 minutes. Batuello finished 13-under-par for the day with 33 birdies, two eagles and just one double bogey. Amazingly, he played the first 145 holes using the same ball.
Batuello was inspired to join the cause by the CC of Asheville golf staff, who invited others to join them in the golf marathon. “I have some family that served and two of my best friends are currently serving in the Navy,” Batuello explained. “It’s an absolutely perfect reason to do it.”
The Folds of Honor mission is to provide educational scholarships to the spouses and children of America’s fallen and disabled service members.
Batuello set out to raise $5,000 in donations, the equivalent of one scholarship. The Holston Hills membership responded immediately, meeting the goal in less than 48 hours. When all was said and done, Batuello had raised nearly $19,000.
“It’s just awesome to see how they rally around our troops, our soldiers, and our country,” he said of the Holston Hills membership.
Batuello admitted that midway through his fifth 18-hole round of the day, the aches and back pain began to creep in enough to take some more Advil. But his motivation behind the marathon encouraged him to keep going.
“You gotta think about soldiers who are going all day long,” he said. “They can’t stop. It’s not like they have a way [to rest] if they’re going through the desert or they’re going through anything. Why should I stop because I’m in a little pain?”
PGA Shootout Event Expands the Effort
Just a few days following Batuello’s exploits, Holston Hills stepped up again, when a foursome of PGA Tour players who hail from the Knoxville area — three-time tour winner Scott Stallings, Wes Roach, Peter Malnati and Eric Axley, who is a member at Holston Hills — participated in the Holston Hills Country Club PGA Shootout presented by Pete Michaels Traffic.
All told, the event raised $6,000 for local charities. “It's nice to be able to give back, playing junior golf in Knoxville here,” said Roach.