Celebrity invitational


As a football player, Jim McMahon had an image as a tough guy. It turns out that picture of McMahon might be all wrong, at least off the field.

The feisty quarterback who led the Chicago Bears to the 1986 Super Bowl victory over the Patriots came to Rhode Island this past August to host a golf tournament in his name, the Jim McMahon Good Sports & Entertainment Celebrity Invitational, at the Alpine country Club in Cranston Rhode Island.

McMahon combined with Rhode Islander Billy Vigeant, president and founder of Good Sports & Entertainment, to raise money for Saving Sight Rhode Island. As part of the event, McMahon spoke about how he suffered a serious eye injury as a child, one that made his eyes overly sensitive to light. The dark glasses that were so much a part of his image as a player were not for show. They were, and are, a necessity, McMahon said. Now, McMahon is committed to helping others with sight problems.

Vigeant has a daughter, Victoria, who suffers from a degenerative eye disease, a problem that has been successfully treated by Saving Sight Rhode Island.
McMahon and Vigeant had about 20 celebrities, including Luis Tiant, Wally Joyner, Gaylord Perry, George Foster and Tommy “The Hit Man” Morrison, take part in the two-day event raising money for Saving Sight Rhode Island. For information about next year’s event, call (401) 575-6863.

 Blue Fox Run Golf Course in Avon, Ct.

The Golf Club at Oxford Greens in Oxford, Ct., is offering a value-laden membership program for 2006. Available to the general public and requiring no initiation fee, membership benefits include unlimited green and golf cart fees valid seven days a week, unlimited use of the driving range and practice facility, 14-day advanced tee time reservations, USGA handicap service and members-only tournaments and events. Additionally, the first 50 individuals to purchase a membership prior to Oct. 31 will pay just $3,500. Pricing will be $3,500 as of Nov. 1 of this year. Designed by Mark Mungeam, the Golf Club at Oxford Greens opened for play this summer and has won rave reviews for its scenic, championship-caliber routing. Call 203-888-1600 or visit www.oxfordfgrfeens.com.

The Mount Washington Hotel in Bretton Woods, N.H. conducted an unusual auction during September to raise  money for the Red Cross. The entire hotel was available for one night to the highest bidder in the “Castle for a Cause,” auction. There was also an option to redeem nights on an as-needed basis. The full amount of the winning bid, $19,600, was donated to the American Red Cross Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. A total of 12 bids were received during the bidding, which was conducted on eBay. “We hope this auction will help our fellow citizens rebuild the gulf coast area,” said Joel Bader, the resort’s president.

Walter Lowell, the former owner and operator of Canton Golf Course in Canton, Ct., has been inducted into the new PGA Golf Professional Hall of Fame in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Lowell was among 122 PGA professionals to enter the hall. The inductees, all PGA past presidents, all PGA golf professionals of the year, and members of the original PGA Hall of Fame, were honored for significant and enduring contributions to The PGA of America and the game of golf. Each member of the Hall of Fame had his name engraved on granite bricks located on the south portico of The PGA Historical Center. Lowell was the only Connecticut PGA Section representative of a 51-member group who were recipients of The PGA’s highest annual honor, that of PGA professional of the year. Lowell received the award in 1978, a year after leading a successful campaign to change the association’s bylaws to allow for women to become embers of The PGA.

Red Tail Golf Club in Devens, Mass. has been named the 2006 Chapter Course of the Year by the New England Golf Course Owner’s Association. Red Tail was recognized in four key areas including: exceptional quality of the course; exceptional quality of ownership and management; outstanding contributions to the local community; and significant contributions to the game. Red Tail Golf Club, an 18-hole course open to the public, was designated the first Audubon International Signature Sanctuary golf course in New England. This year it hosted the Massachusetts Golf Association’s junior championship and the New England Professional Golf Association’s assistants championship. Jim Pavlik serves as general manager/director of golf for the club.



Tashua Knolls Golf Club in Hamden, Ct. opened a new nine holes called Tashua Glen Golf Course this past August. The new nine brings to 27 the number of holes at the public facility. The original 18-hole championship course was designed by Al Zikorus and opened in 1976. Tashua Glen is an “executive” course, measuring 2,184 yards from the tips and playing to a par of 33. The layout was designed by Michael Zikorus, son of Al Zikorus. The new nine features one par-five, four par-fours, and four par-threes and is an ideal course for beginners and seniors as well as more advanced players who wish to working on their iron play and short games, says management.