The Holy Redeemer Golf Classic is the primary fundraiser for the Holy Redeemer Athletic Committee which helps organize and fund our sports programs. The HRAC programs benefit more than 400 Holy Redeemer School and Parish children each year! Our recent initiatives have provided needed upgrades to facilities and uniforms. Golfers of ALL abilities and skill levels are welcome and encouraged to play! There will be great giveaways for all participants and many fun interactive events throughout the round. Too embarrassed…won’t be in town…please join us in spirit with a donation. Every pledge helps! Thanks for your support of HR Athletics!
In 1989, Joan Conley suggested the idea of a golf tournament to benefit Holy Redeemer and placed an announcement in the bulletin that Dr. Maury Conley was the chairman of the golf committee and asked people to call him to volunteer their time and support.
Some of those involved initially and through the early years included: Mike Noonan, Bill Foote, Gus Montes de Oca, Tom Fisher, Michael Conley, Bob Conley, Sean O’Boyle, Joe Donnelly, Bob Easby-Smith, Bill Everngam, Pete Hodgson, Doug McDaniel, Tom Cox, Paula Gaiser, Sue Cox, Mary Jane Fisher, Pat Conley, Lizzie and Tom Flavin, Mary Jane Fisher, Matt Riley, and Matt Conley. Vince Terlep was the official photographer and videographer of everyone’s first tee shot on hole #1, which was replayed at the party on the big screen.
A Golf Widows’ party was held the night before the tournament for the wives and girlfriends of the golfers.
The first was at the home of Kathy and Billy Everngam. The first tournament was held in the spring of 1989 and was a 9-hole event at Georgetown Prep. There were about forty golfers. Children or family friends of golfers were caddies. Monsignor Coady hit the first shot of the first tournament. The winning foursome had their names inscribed on a plaque which hung in the front hall of Holy Redeemer School. Prep, after helping to get us started, asked us to find another course to accommodate our growing numbers.
Maury Conley chaired the event for five years and as the tournament grew it moved to Brooke Manor on Georgia Avenue. When Brooke Manor was sold, the tournament relocated across Georgia Avenue to Trotter’s Glen and then to Poolesville. About this time, Dr. Conley turned the reigns over to Sean O’Boyle to head the golf committee and run the tournament. Under his 10 years of solid leadership, the tournament grew and prospered. Sean was the driving force behind both the continuation and expansion of the tournament and did a masterful job as both Director and Master of Ceremonies.
In 2003, Sean, after serving on the committee and helping to lead the tournament for over 15 years, turned the reigns over to Geoff Gonella, who with some initial help from Kevin Greaney, moved the tournament to Kenwood, where it remained for a few years until finding its current home at Falls Road. Geoff ran the event from 2003 to 2009. In 2009, Mike Greene, who had been on the committee for several years stepped up and then took over the event. Mike has been successfully running the tournament for the past four years. Over the years, so many of our fellow parishioners have donated their time, talents and treasure to make this event special. we thank everyone who has been involved and look forward to twenty-five more years.
