The 29th annual Chili Open Golf Classic returns February 29th
By Ken McEntee
For those of you who think you don’t have time to enjoy an exhilarating Saturday of brisk winter golf for charity, here’s some amazing news: An extra day will be added to the end of February this year just for the 29th Annual Chili Open Golf Classic, presented by Kaulig Companies and hosted by the Rotary Club of Strongsville.
Bury the to-do list, you now have a whole day that wasn’t even on the calendar a year ago to swing through the blustery nine-hole Nanook’s Nightmare and Frozen Buns courses at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds before warming up inside with an action-packed celebrity auction and all the food and beer you can consume.
The Chili Open Golf Classic is a Northeast Ohio winter tradition, raising more than $2 million for local charities and Rotary service projects over the past 28 years. This year, eight specially selected charities will share in the proceeds.
You don’t have to golf to have a blast at the Chili Open. In fact, some people attend mainly for the high-energy celebrity auction featuring the extraordinary auctioneer Bob Hale, of Benefit Auction Service. The Chili Open, Bob insists, is the “Best kept secret in Northeast Ohio. It is truly a great event.”
Bob was assisted last year by such notables as Mike Snyder, Brad Sussman and Munch Bishop, of WTAM; Jimmy Malone, of WMJI; former Cleveland Brown linebacker Judge Dick Ambrose; Jenn Harcher, of Fox8; and Bruce Drennen, of Sports Time Ohio.
“The auction is full of items that cannot just be purchased or found elsewhere,” insists Rotarian Brad Nudell, auction chair. “There are unique experiences and items that are one-of-a-kind, with many items focused on the Browns, Cavs and Indians, as well as packages involving all the best golf courses in the area.”
This year’s Chili Open raffle features a dugout loge for 10, including parking and food; a 55-inch flat screen from Costco of Strongsville; and a $350 Walmart gift card. To get your raffle tickets, track down any of the 120 Strongsville Rotarians.
The charities selected to receive donations from Chili Open proceeds this year are:
• Santa PICsU, which brings the healing power of giving to children and families in traumatic situations on a year-round basis.
• Ben Curtis Family Foundation, founded by the 2003 British Open Champion to help alleviate childhood hunger.
• Achievement Centers (Camp Cheerful), which serves children and adults with physical, developmental and sensory disabilities.
• Adaptive Sports Program of Ohio, which promotes the health and wellness of individuals with physical disabilities through adaptive sports.
• Applewood Centers, which provides mental health services, social services and education to children, adolescents and families.
• Leadership Mission International, which develops ethical women leaders by providing exceptional academics, leadership and community development experiences.
• Santa’s Hideaway, a retreat for terminally ill children and their families.
• The Lantern, which offers residential care and recovery for men who suffer drug and alcohol addiction.
Along with raising money for important charity organizations, the Rotary Club of Strongsville, under the motto of “Service Above Self,” takes on a large number of ongoing community projects and initiatives throughout the year, including financial and volunteer support of the Strongsville Emergency Food Bank, an annual community forum on human trafficking, a multitude of youth support activities through local schools, an annual clothing drive for people in need, free holiday and summertime events for local seniors, landscaping help at venues like the Strongsville Historical Village and Camp Cheerful and many other activities. Chili Open sponsorship opportunities are available. For more info, visit ChiliOpen.com or Facebook: @ChiliOpen.