I know it is our biggest fundraiser of the year and we get a substantial amount of our budget out of it, so it is a critical event for the organization.”

Andrew Trembath

For those interested in donating or sponsoring next year’s event, visit www.hastingsfootball.com.

Each year, high school sports become increasingly expensive to offer as school budgets tighten across the country. This shift often leaves teams to fend for themselves financially. Booster groups play a vital role in alleviating these costs. Hastings is fortunate to have many dedicated volunteers who work countless hours with various booster clubs for varsity sports.

The football booster club excels at fundraising each year, with their largest event being the golf tournament held on the third Friday in August. This year marks the 15th golf tournament aimed at raising funds for the Raider football team, which includes grades 9-12.

The weather was perfect as 108 golfers arrived at the Hastings Golf Club around 11:00 a.m. for check-in. The $85 per golfer ticket included 18 holes of golf, one cart for every two golfers, lunch, and dinner. The day concluded with a raffle featuring a solid set of prizes.

“This is my first year running it,” said Andrew Trembath. “I know it is our biggest fundraiser of the year and we get a substantial amount of our budget out of it, so it is a critical event for the organization.”

In addition to the entry fee from golfers, there was a substantial list of sponsors:

Preferred Sponsors: Molitor Brothers Farm, Millner Family Chiropractic, Golden Key Property Management, Inmotion Realty, Inside Edge Commercial Interior Services, The Wagner Family, Dugarel’s Bar and Grill, Cushman & Wakefield, Graphic Design Inc., Applebee’s Bar and Grill.

Hole Sponsors: Precision Landscaping and Construction, Backyard Party Rentals, Catalyst ARPwave Therapy – Sarah Wasvick, Dakota Electric Association, Tennis Sanitation, Wiederholt’s Supper Club, Viking Forest Products, Advanced Sportsware, Wagner Tax Law, Seleskie Financial, Hastings Bus Company, COEUR Real Estate Group, Hastings Ford, State Farm – Teran Harmon, Balanced Wealth Management, Radke & Mohrhauser LLC, Beacon Hills Technologies – John Majeski.

With Special Thanks to: Gertens, Portillos, Wild Bill’s, Rick Bronson’s House of Comedy, Tinucci’s Catering, Deli & Events, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Nine Eagles Promotions, River Oaks Golf Course, St. James Hotel, Premier Bank, Keys Café and Bakery, American Legion Post 47, Spiral Brewery, Chipotle, Two Rivers United Promotions.

With so many sponsors, and only 18 holes plus the warm-up putting green, Dugarel’s has secured their spot with their "Putt for Beverages" challenge. When they receive more sponsors than holes, they double up the sponsors for each hole to ensure everyone gets recognized. They also distribute flyers listing the sponsors to each golfer.

The tournament winners receive more than just bragging rights; this year’s winners earn a round of golf with carts at Hastings Golf Club.

Funds raised help cover uniform costs, transportation, equipment, and other expenses throughout the season, including the video system used during games and practices.

According to Trembath, planning for the golf tournament is a year-round endeavor.

“It really starts today for the next year, it really does. I will be meeting with the club pro today to establish next year's date, and then it starts to kick up again in May. We send out letters to past sponsors or potential sponsors, and then we start following up with emails and phone calls. It is a lot of people doing a lot of work to put this together, volunteering and donating their time to make it happen,” he said.

An event as popular as this should be easy to fill, but Trembath tempered his expectations.

“I don't know if I'd use the word easy, but it is not super hard, because it's a pretty engaged community. I think that the important part for us is getting the date out there early, because people’s summers get busy and filled up. But we definitely have some regulars who are eager to come back because it's such a fun time. And yeah, I think it fills itself up pretty well because of just how robust this community is,” he added.

In addition to traditional golf tournament mini-games like longest putt, longest drive, longest chip, and closest to the pin, the event also features some football-themed activities.

“We have three other games that are more football-based. We have a field goal challenge, a football toss challenge, which is basically trying to throw a football into a trash can, and then we also have ‘Beat the Coach.’ We had a coach out earlier this morning, and he hit five golf balls on a par-three hole. The closest one has a little stake there, and if you beat that, you win some raffle tickets,” explained Trembath.

The field goal mini-game is just as it sounds: golfers have three chances to kick the ball through portable goal posts. Trembath anticipates that the challenge is tougher than it seems.

“I anticipate that, regardless of the distance, there’s going to be a lack of success. It is a lot harder than people think, especially if you haven’t practiced it or haven’t been doing athletics recently. It’s probably not the easiest challenge to even get the ball up there,” he laughed.

For those interested in donating or sponsoring next year’s event, visit www.hastingsfootball.com.