When golfers tee off at at Bloomingdale Golfers Club’s 17th hole par-3 April 20, they won’t hear chirping birds, a gentle breeze and an occasional golf cart passing by.
Instead, they will have to deal with the sounds of trumpets, clarinets and drums. The 17th hole will be the “distraction hole” at this year’s 11th annual Spring Golf Classic, hosted by the Durant High School Music Program Booster Club.
This will be the second year the tournament features a distraction hole, at which members of the Durant marching band play their instruments while golfers tee off.
“It’s a fun and unique thing that we hope will turn into an annual tradition,” said event organizer Brian Tice. “(Last year), it started with just one or two kids playing instruments, but by the afternoon, we almost had a whole band out there playing a collection of songs. The kids really took to it, and the golfers enjoyed it, because it’s something different.”
This will be the second consecutive year the golf tournament will be held at Bloomingdale, in Valrico. It was held previously at Walden Lake Golf and Country Club.
“They have … one of the best layouts in the state, from a golfing standpoint,” said Tice, who won the distraction hole last year.
The tournament is one of several fundraisers for the Durant music program, an organization that relies on fundraising to help with trips and other expenses. The marching band also hosts spaghetti dinners and a poinsettia sale at Christmas, along with the West Coast Invitational band competition. The Booster Club also raises money from concessions at Durant athletic events and works the stands at events at Raymond James Stadium, in Tampa. All money raised supports both individual and program costs.
“The program costs about $80,000 a year to run,” said Estela Tice, Brian’s wife and the account manager for the Booster Club.
Each part of the music program is allocated a “fair share” amount for each member of that section. For example, the amount is $380 a year for marching band members and only $100 for the orchestra, because of the difference in travel and operating costs.
The Tices’ son, Christopher, is a junior with the Cougar Pride Marching Band. Estela Tice said because of the fundraising efforts, her son participates in band at minimal cost.
“We haven’t had to write a check in three years,” she said. “You have to be actively involved, but it makes it where your son or daughter can be involved at little cost to a family.”
Fundraising efforts help the music program. The marching band recently traveled to Atlanta for a competition and in 2011, to New York City.
ANNUAL SPRING GOLF CLASSIC
WHEN: Saturday, April 20. Check-in at noon, with a 1 p.m. shotgun start
WHERE: Bloomingdale Golfers Club; 4113 Great Golfers Place, Valrico
FORMAT: Four-person scramble
COST: $75 per player. Includes green fee, cart, range balls and post-tournament dinner.
CONTACT: Brian Tice at bttourman@yahoo.com
