PITTSBORO — A day at the golf course typically ends at sun down. But that won’t be the case July 21 at Pittsboro Golf Club as the Rebecca Jean Klemen Night Golf Outing returns.
Klemen was an avid golfer who drowned in 2000 at the age of 14. Kelly Steele was a friend of Klemen’s and went on to play golf at Evansville University and Marian College.
Years after her friend’s death, Steele got with Klemen’s parents and came up with the idea for the charity golf outing, both to honor Klemen and to benefit the Tri-West Dollars for Scholars program.
“Her parents and I decided, after several years of discussions about what we wanted to do, so that we could start a scholarship in her name that’d be funded by the golf outing,” Steele explained. “The whole time I was looking for something that meant more and made sense, and from conversations we had, we knew that we had to figure out a way to honor Becky.”
The scholarship, which is typically around $1,000 annually, goes to a female athlete who wins a mental attitude award as part of their athletic season at Tri-West High School. If the mental attitude award winner is a golfer and a senior, she automatically obtains the scholarship. If the golf team’s mental attitude award winner is not a senior, the award goes to a senior female athlete in another sport.
Klemen had been named the mental attitude award winner of her golf team the season prior to her death.
The outing is a nine-hole event due to the length of time it takes to play golf at night.
“Night golf takes about twice as long,” Steele said. “Plus, it’s a scramble so it ends up taking about three hours. We buy the high performance LED impact sensor balls. We always encourage people to bring flashlights.”
Steele said they are in need of hole sponsors and there is room for two more foursomes.
“Frequently people tell me after they’ve played, that it’s the most fun they’ve had in their life,” she said. “People in the community come out and sit on the deck, make a donation, have a few drinks and snacks. It’s really an interesting spectator event seeing all these lit up golf balls flying through the air at once. (Becky’s parents) help me a lot. They sponsor a hole and bring a team. It’s definitely a joint effort and I know they’re really pleased that we can do this to honor her.”
Hole sponsorships are $100 and the cost to play is $50. Teams of four are $200. Players get golf, carts, and an LED ball with their registration.
Registration starts at 7 p.m. and the event starts at 8 p.m.
Pittsboro Golf Club is at 2227 E. U.S. 136 and may be reached by calling 892-3335.
Anyone interested in being a hole sponsor, donating a prize, or playing may e-mail Steele at scholarship@kendricks.k12.in.us.
Just the facts
WHAT: Rebecca Jean Klemen Night Golf Outing
WHEN: 8 p.m. July 21
WHERE: Pittsboro Golf Club
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