About 27 years ago, Bo Skelton decided that the Chelsea Athletic Boosters needed an additional way to raise funds for sports teams in the Chelsea School District.
At that time, he said, the only source of fundraising was working the gates at the Chelsea Community Fair and he wanted the boosters to have additional funds to assist Chelsea’s athletic teams.
“I live here and I had three sons who were three-sport athletes. I’ve always believed that sports is a big commitment and that being involved has great value,” he said.
And that’s how the annual Bo Skelton Golf Scramble began.
For the first 16 or 17 years, “I got all the golfers and all the sponsors, then I asked the boosters for help,” he said.
In fact, he said, there was no clubhouse at Reddeman Farms at that time, and Joe Merkel would come and cater it. He’d cook steaks and baked potatoes under a tent and bring cookies for the golfers.
“I’d ask for a bill and during all those years, we never got one,” Skelton said.
Skelton explained that each sport team benefits from the Athletic Booster fundraisers. Each year, the coaches put together a wish list and a committee of boosters makes sure that each sport gets something.
Athletic Director Brad Bush told the golfers that the Athletic Boosters have made it possible for there to be a no-cut policy for middle school sports and the funds have paid for equipment and entry fees for tournaments.
Newly hired Superintendent of Schools Julie Helber was also on hand to take part in the golf outing, calling it a great opportunity to meet people.
“Go Bulldogs,” she said, in conclusion after being introduced to the crowd.
And for its 25th anniversary, the outing moved in town to Pierce Lake Golf Course. Thirty-two teams took to the links on Friday. June 17 under sunny skies.
Speaking of those sunny skies, Skelton says it has never rained on the booster’s golf outing. He said before the original date was chosen, he asked a woman who used to work for him to have her husband, a weatherman, take a look at the history of weather forecasts for Chelsea.
And, after researching the weather for about 100 years, Skelton was told the third Friday in June.
So far, this weather prediction hasn’t been wrong.
“The community has kept this golf outing alive,” Skelton said.
He thanked all the coaches at the outing and gave a special congratulations to Bush for “getting us to the dome,” referring to the Bulldog’s football state championship run, and to track coach Eric Swager for being named Coach of the Year.
Also to be thanked are Sue Jacobs and Matt Heydlauff for donating a flat screen TV as one of the many raffle prizes and Chelsea Chevrolet Buick for being a major sponsor.
