Greens at Renton turns golf into community giving

Emilie Kershaw, event coordinator, on the left, and Melinda Bell, assistant administrator, brave the heat to help serve the community during the Greens at Renton’s ‘Community Day’ fundraiser. 

Alex Hunt

Advocate Correspondent

What began as a trial run, is now a model for nationwide giving and it all started with a local golf course and a simple idea. 

Brad Halyk, general manager at The Green at Renton, started the idea of raising money for the community three years ago when Community Day was nothing but a test drive. Now, the event hosts 400 golfers, vendors, sponsors and a silent auction with the goal of supporting 27 local charities. 

Halyk believes that some education on the event logistics, along with some effort and organization, Community Day can be a tradition that exists on all golf courses. 

“We calculated that if other courses used this concept, the industry could make $50 million in one day for the charities,” said Halyk. “We are pushing this idea at conferences, talking to the media and through the trades. It’s a weird idea - it’s not a golf tournament, it’s something different. People have a hard time grasping what it is, that’s been the biggest challenge is making people understand.” 

Melissa Bell, assistant administrator at the Greens at Renton said that in the earlier days, that was the real challenge with getting people to understand exactly what Community Day was. By the second and now the third year, on June 20, the county has begun to celebrate the idea. 

The all-day fundraiser uses a concept where all green fees are donated to support 27 local charities which includes organizations like Norfolk General Hospital, food banks, Rotary clubs and the Alzheimer's Society. 

“It’s very transferable, any golf course can do this. It takes some effort from our staff and organizations but each year it gets a little easier,” said Halyk. "It's a great way to raise a lot of money for all the local charities.”

The event also includes a silent auction, a 50/50 raffle and volunteer supported contents at the putting holes across the greens. 

This year, Norfolk General Hospital Foundation held its annual golf tournament at The Greens at Renton, where organizers surprised the foundation by donating the full cost of the venue to help fund a portable X-ray machine for the health centre.

Emma Rogers, CEO of NGH Foundation, stated that Norfolk County has shown what kind of community they identify as through the generous offer. 

Halyk, who moved to the county six years ago, believes that Norfolk is underrated, and said that he wants to help his staff to understand that this is their community. 

"What it boils down to is that if you want to do well, how can you commit to that if your community is not doing well.” 

In Norfolk County, giving back isn’t just an idea, it’s a tradition in the making.