"Last year we turned this into a charity event. We're donating all the proceeds to Hospice of SOMC. Last year we donated $6,400, we're hoping to do the same thing this year," said Scott Hammond who organized the event.
The Boilermakers are members of a union which both trains and supports workers in their specific trades.
"We build and repair power plants and refineries. We work all over the country, and we've got a lot of work in this area," Hammond said. "We're located in Piketon. We work on the power plant there, we worked at Ashland Oil, we work on the refineries, we work at the chemical plant, Sunoco, Haverhill."
Not everyone at the golf scramble were members of the Boilermakers Local 105.
"They're our buddies, friends and relations," Hammond said of the other golfers who attended the event to support their cause.
Gary Ledford is the apprentice coordinator for the Boilermakers Local 105.
"We bring in apprentices and have classes, evaluate and train them in welding, blue printing, testing, math and safety, cover all the building trade that we do," he said.
Ledford's team for the golf event consisted of two retirees and two graduate apprentices, on of them his own son.
"Gary's our coordinator and I've been one of our instructors for about four or five years, but retired back in Jan. and now I enjoy playing golf," Holland said.
"We just try to help the community," Ledford said.
Joe Ledford is an apprentice instructor for the Boilermakers, and was helping his fathers four-man team in the golf scramble.
"I work apprentices in the local. They come up for three weeks a year and take classes--rigging classes, math, welding--stuff that has to do with our work," Joe said.
The Ledfords' team may not have been ready for the pros by the way they chuckled about their golf score, but they enjoyed the day out on the golf course.
"It's a real good time and Hospice gets all the donations out of it," he said.
A brief golf cart ride down the course found more Boilermakers enjoying the day despite the slightly wet ground that had delayed the beginning of their golf games by a couple hours that morning.
John McWhorter is the assistant business manager at the Local 105.
"I work in the union hall, me and Scott Hammond. He's the leader of the golf outing. He's the one who's been over it for a few years now," McWhorter said. "Last year we made it a charity event, and we picked SOMC Hospice to donate the money to. We collected $6,400 last year and I hope we do as well this year."
McWhorter said that they work through the year getting sponsors for the annual golf event.
"It's a pretty good event, we have good time and feed everybody good," McWhorter said.
Randy Collier is retired after 38 years of working with the Boilermakers union. He does not golf, but still volunteers at the event in whatever capacity he may be needed, which this time included chauffeuring a journalist around the course in a golf cart.
"I just volunteer, I always have ever since they started. I just enjoy doing it," Collier said.
Supporting a worthy cause seemed more important than the final score to most of the players. In addition to golf, there were also t-shirts for sale, a raffle and several prizes which helped to raise money for their chosen charity.
"We provide care for patients dealing with a terminal illness," Theresa Ruby, director of SOMC Hospice, said. "We provide that care in their home, nursing homes, assisted living and our Hospice Center.
"Last year was their first year (donating to Hospice). They had us back this year and we're thrilled to be a part of it," Ruby said.
HEATHER DUMAS may be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 241, or hdumas@heartlandpublications.com.
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