Sedona Police Department Lends a Hand to Special Olympics

The Sedona Police Department is set to organize its inaugural golf scramble on Saturday, October 19, to support Special Olympics Arizona. The event will take place at the Oakcreek Country Club Golf Course, with a tee time scheduled for 8:30 a.m. The day’s golfing activities are projected to conclude around 2 p.m.

Catherine Beers, an SPD officer and event organizer, noted, “This is actually the first Sedona Police Department golf scramble for the Special Olympics. We’ve done golf tournaments in the past, but it’s been with another organization.”

Participants can look forward to a lunch included in their registration, featuring a menu of hamburgers, bratwurst, chips, and salad.

Mike Burnett, the Law Enforcement Torch Run Director for Special Olympics Arizona, emphasized the significance of the event. “You get to have a day of golfing at a beautiful golf course, supporting an organization that is very beneficial to a special population,” he said, referencing individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The day will also include a small banquet with raffle and auction items, promising a fun-filled atmosphere.

The scramble format allows for dynamic gameplay, with players organized into teams of four. Each team member takes a shot, and the group proceeds with the best-located ball for their next stroke. “The scores are usually very competitive because of that format,” added Burnett.

Registration is available for $150 per individual or $600 for a team of four. Individual registrants will be paired into teams on the day of the event. All proceeds will benefit Special Olympics Arizona. Various sponsorship options remain open, including a $1,000 Event Swag Sponsorship and Golf Cart Sponsorship, both of which entail benefits like free foursome spots and promotional opportunities.

The SPD highlighted that sponsors receive recognition on print materials and during the luncheon following the scramble. Players will automatically participate in a hole-in-one competition, with potential prizes including a new golf cart and cash rewards.

Beers acknowledged challenges related to participation this year, suggesting that the election season might affect turnout. “We’re hoping to get some more teams in here,” she stated.

Additionally, donations for raffle items and swag bags are being collected, and all contributions are tax-deductible. “I don’t think that there’s anyone that I know that doesn’t have someone in their family or a friend that has disabilities,” Beers concluded. “I just feel like that it impacts everyone, and the Special Olympics is something that I think people should come out and support.”

To register as a player or sponsor, interested individuals can visit give.classy.org/SedonaPDGolf or contact Melissa Bremner at melissa@soaz.org for more information.