FALMOUTH — The question to Golf Channel host Blair O’Neal was simple and straightforward: What do you think of Maine?
“It’s beautiful,” the Arizona native said while walking off the 16th green at Falmouth Country Club. “I fly back and forth from Florida and Arizona, and either way, they’re hot. Here, I woke up to play, and I was like, ‘This is beautiful!’ ”
A ringing endorsement for the Pine Tree State, but far from the only one coming from the Drive Fore Kids’ star-studded cast as the inaugural event came to a close. Ask the folks who played in it, and Maine’s debut into celebrity golf was a success.
“Oh, it’s incredible,” said professional bowler Ronnie Russell, who won the Stableford scoring event with 43 points – one point ahead of former NHL star Jeremy Roenick – and the $50,000 prize that went with it. “I didn’t expect to have grandstands here and party villas everywhere. It was just a blast. The fans were a blast.”
The event was a financial success as well, tournament director and Shamrock Sports and Entertainment CEO Brian Corcoran said. The Drive Fore Kids, organized as a replacement for the departed Korn Ferry Tour’s Live and Work in Maine Open, exceeded Corcoran’s $100,000 goal by raising $111,000 for the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital, and drew 11,000 fans over three days. The Live and Work in Maine Open drew 10,800 over four.
“I think we’re only getting started here,” Corcoran said. “We’re always cautiously optimistic; we want to make sure we exceed expectations. But I think we’ve built such a solid foundation this year that there’s nowhere to go but up.”
The fans were treated to good golf as well, particularly from Russell, who shot 69 en route to his victory, and Roenick, who shot 68. Taylor Twellman and Michael Peña, with 38 points, tied for third, with 2011 National Amputee Golf champion Chad Pfeifer taking fifth at 37.
The celebrities enjoyed the experience that came with the golf, even as rain began shortly after the last tee times Saturday and fell for the remainder of the final round. Pfeifer has played in around 15 celebrity charity events, including in Florida, Texas and Nevada at Lake Tahoe. He said that while the Drive Fore Kids provided a smaller field (27 players Saturday, compared to 87 at Lake Tahoe last year), that actually helped the atmosphere.
“I thought it was great. I thought it made it more intimate with the fans,” Pfeifer said. “As you’re walking up the holes or getting to the next spot, the celebrities will interact with you, you’ll get autographs, you’ll get pictures. At Lake Tahoe, they’ll encourage the celebrities to wait until afterwards, because there are so many people there.”
Even as rain picked up Saturday, examples of that fan interaction were widespread. Laurie Thiboutot, 36, of Brownfield posed for pictures with Mike Vrabel – the Tennessee Titans coach and former Patriots linebacker – before the start of his round. Thiboutot’s son Jacob, a neuroblastoma survivor, was selected as Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital’s “Patient Champion” for 2023.
“It’s surprising, it’s overwhelming. … It’s really awe-inspiring,” she said. “It’s wonderful when celebrities choose to do things like this, because they have that kind of influence, and they can really bring people out. Even on a rainy day.”
Portland’s David Dill, 53, echoed that point, saying that the Drive Fore Kids has more drawing power over its Korn Ferry predecessor due to the star power.
“Everybody’s really been open. Selfies, signing cards, everyone has been engaging. It’s been fun,” said Dill, who attended all three days of the event. “I think this is a better received event, because of the names. People want to come out and stand around and watch.”
And, often, interact. Roger Clemens, after missing two short putts in a row, gave enthusiastic permission to a fan asking if he could heckle him. Roenick signed for fans going from the 9th green to the 10th tee, and Sterling Sharpe walked up the 10th hole while chatting with a fan.
Few, however, were more sociable than actor Patrick Dempsey, who celebrated his return to his home state by playing to the crowd on every hole, joking after poor shots and chatting back and forth with fans while walking up to his ball.
“It’s very moving to be back here and do something like this, and bring the community together,” Dempsey said. “It’s why I keep coming back. I really miss this state, and it’s always good to be here. I had a great time.”
Even the celebrities had a chance to be awestruck. Noelle Lambert, a Paralympic track and field athlete and U.S. record holder in the 100-meter dash – and a “Grey’s Anatomy” fan – felt nerves kick in when she knew she’d be playing with Dempsey.
“I was like, ‘I need to golf with him. Can I please golf with him?’ ” she said. “I was literally practicing in the driving range this morning, and all of a sudden here comes Roger (Clemens), here comes Patrick. I’m like, ‘Just be cool, just be cool.’ … They made this day so fun.”
Corcoran said plans are already in place to make next year’s event just as fun, starting with a move to a 48-player field.
“It’s a heavy lift for our team, but I think all the stars are aligning … to make this bigger, better, best for 2024,” he said.
After a successful debut event, he has a head start on recruiting.
“I’ll see you next year,” Twellman said. “I’ll be here.”
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