WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – A group of golfers went round after round after round at MacDonald Golf Course.
The goal was to raise enough money to waive the green fee for Wichita junior golfers at all five public golf courses.
“We want to grow the game. We want as many kids as possible to be out on the golf course and we want them to be able to play free of charge we don’t want to have any excuse that it’s too expensive,” First Tee of Greater Wichita program director Corey Novascone said.
Novascone and friends played for 120 holes, taking them nearly sun up to sun down to complete.
The local First Tee and MVPurchasing teamed up for the first Wichita Golf Marathon, a tradition they hope will continue for years to come.
“My dad said golf gave him everything and it’s a lifelong sport. I just saw the number of golf rounds declining in the city of Wichita so I was trying to spark and make a turnaround,” Rick Navarro with MVPurchasing said.
Navarro runs the annual Auggie Navarro Golf Outing and is very passionate about helping young golfers through scholarships.
“It’s a game that they have integrity, honesty, they have to keep the rules themselves, they have to keep their own score,” Navarro said.
Besides the expense, the golfers say time is a reason people choose not to golf.
Their marathon rounds on Monday took about half the time it would normally take them to play 18 holes.
“I think another thing we’re showing today is it doesn’t have to be slow. There’s no reason people can’t play in four hours or less,” Pete Krsnich said.
The group surpassed their goal of $20,000, which they will turn into the city to waive the green fees for junior golfers (17 and under) beginning June 1.
