Left: The winning team at the North Shore Health Care Foundation tournament was Casey Vankreveken, Joyce Boyce and Todd Tosel. Above left: Barry Pederson (left) receives a handshake from Karl Hansen for his hole-in-one. His brother Joey came within an inch of getting a hole-in-one last year at the tournament. Above right: Voted Best Dressed was Greg Gresczyk who received $100 for the honor.
With the Superior National at Lutsen golf course wrapped in fall’s splendid golds and greens, reds and oranges, a blue sky and golden sun overhead, temperatures in the high 60s and an occasional light breeze to tickle the turning leaves, it was just about the best day ever for about 100 golfers to take to the links for some friendly competition and to raise funds for the North Shore Health Care Foundation (NSHCF).
“This year we had 25 teams registered including our special guest members from the Grand Marais, Maple Hill, and Gunflint Trail Fire departments,” said NSHCF president Karl Hansen. “Last year we had 19 teams. We were also up this year in donations from area businesses and individuals. Overall we netted about $19,000 from the golf scramble [up 35 percent from last year] to fund our grant making activities.”
Highlighting the day was Grand Marais golfer Barry Pederson’s hole-in-one on the Mountain 5 hole. He was playing with his brother Joey Pederson, Chris LaVigne and Jeff Backlund.
“I was playing a 7-iron, and I hit a super-duper high shot. It came down about 4-6 inches beyond the hole and rolled in. I couldn’t believe it. I was playing a green ball, so I thought it might have landed and plugged, and that’s why we couldn’t see it on the green. It wasn’t until I went down to the hole and saw it in the cup that it became real. My teammates and I all went a little crazy; we were laughing so hard. It didn’t seem real, but it was a great experience.”
A relatively new golfer with three years of experience, this was Pederson’s first hole-in-one, and it netted him a very cool $10,000.
He also won $500 for the inaugural “Skins” game, said Hansen.
“I’m still filling out the insurance papers that will cover the cost of Barry’s hole-in-one,” said a giddy Hansen the next day.
“My grandfather [Dick Anderson] loved to golf, but he never got a hole-in-one,” said Pederson. “So he left a bottle of Dom Perignon [a premium champagne] that was to be opened when one of his kids or grandkids got a hole-in-one. It’s with my brother Jesse in Michigan. We will open it when we are all together.”
Finishing in second place was (L-R) Dinky Pederson, Gina Gervais, Carline Gresczyk, and Pete Gresczyk.
Prizes were given out for the 1st, 2nd, and highest scoring team.
“This was a wonderful tournament, a great day for NSHCF, but it wouldn’t be possible without the generous donations from all of the area businesses and individuals who contribute to this event,” Hansen said, adding that Michael Valentini deserved special recognition.
“Michael brought his large tent to the golf course, cooked up some delicious food and fed the golfers there. He also had two large screen TVs inside the tent so people could stop between play and follow the Ryder Cup. The Ryder Cup tournament ended just when we were prepared to hand out awards. Everything was perfect. We couldn’t have asked for a better way to end the day.”
The fantastic Fenwicks attended once again and had a great time playing competitive golf, with one team taking top honors. Bob Fenwick of Grand Marais and his relatives from the Twin Cities turn this event into a family reunion, usually sporting four or five teams and raising a lot of money for the NSHCF.
The North Shore Health Care Foundation has humble beginnings. It began in 1993 when a half dozen residents who were dedicated to improving the health and wellness of the Cook County community formed the nonprofit grant-making organization. After 23 years NSHCF has awarded grants totaling $669,569 which it has distributed to various agencies including the Sawtooth Mountain Clinic, Cook County North Shore Hospital, Care Partners of Cook County, Cook County Higher Education, local volunteer fire departments, First Responders and EMTs, all local schools, and the Oral Health Task Force.
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