Bob Loomis checks his golf clubs prior to teeing off at the Friends of the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail fundraiser staged at the Shaker Farms Country Club in September of 2013. (File photo by Frederick Gore)
WESTFIELD – The Friends of the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail are anticipating quite the charm the third time around.
According to their press release, the organization announced Friday, September 12, as their date for their now annual Tee It Up For The Rail Trail golf tournament, a fundraising day on the links in order to support the ever-expanding bike trail.
Westfield’s Rail Trail, also known as the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail, follows a stretch of the New York-New Haven-Hartford Railroad, as well as the one-time Northampton to New Haven canal. Opened in 2012, the first phase of the greenway spans the distance from the Southwick-Westfield town line to just shy of the Tin Bridge near the current location of Amelia Park and the Westfield Boys and Girls Club.
Funds raised during the tournament would support the financing of the upcoming phases. Phase two began construction last summer, starting where phase one left off, including a northern terminus and access ramp just off of East Silver Street. According to their website, FOCGRT expects a fall opening of phase two, thanks to ahead-of-schedule construction.
At the beginning, southern terminus of the trail lies Shaker Farms Country Club, the site of the annual tournament. Registration will begin at 11 a.m. on that Friday in September, with a shotgun start beginning at 12:15 p.m. Following tournament play, a cocktail hour and buffet dinner will take place. Several contests, prizes and raffles round up the full day and ensures quite the fun and entertaining day on the links.
Costs for the day’s festivities start at $90 per person or $340 per foursome, with these prices including both meals, cart fees and green fees. The cost to attend just the dinner is $35, with all proceeds benefiting FOCGRT. Golfers can register online by heading over to the organization’s website: www.columbiagreenway.org.
For questions or more information, please head to their website or contact them by email: [email protected].
