The Calgary Flames’ annual charity golf outing once again delivered on the fundraising front, with the 45th annual Calgary Flames Celebrity Charity Golf Classic presented by Scotiabank bringing in $280,000 for the Calgary Flames Foundation on Thursday.
The event stretched across both Country Hills Golf Club and Cottonwood Golf & Country Club, with more than 400 golfers taking part on 54 holes. The field included representatives from the Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation, along with Flames players, management, alumni, media and local celebrities, all part of the team’s season-launching tradition.
When the golf wrapped up, everyone headed to the event floor of the Scotiabank Saddledome for a dinner reception presented by Western Energy Services.
On the course, Zayne Parekh’s group posted the low gross score at Cottonwood, while Ben Jones led the winning team at Country Hills with the low gross score there.
Cottonwood Golf & Country Club Zayne Parekh
Jono Heer Ben Hebert
Mark Depasquale Kenny Gregor
John Windwick
Country Hills Golf Club Ben Jones
Dan Wowryk Kevin Robbins
Josh Park Chad Werbowesky
Steve Copeland
During the dinner reception, the Calgary Flames Foundation highlighted several of its supported initiatives, including the Rotary Flames House, the Reading… Give it a Shot! program and the Flames Sports Bank.
The foundation says its mandate is to improve the lives of southern Albertans through support of health and wellness, education and grassroots sports programs. Since the ownership group brought the team to Calgary in 1980, it has invested over $70 million into the community.
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