The Good of the Village Association’s annual Golfing Through Sea Cliff event returned Saturday, bringing golfers and spectators together for a day of competition, food and community throughout the village.
The event, organized by GVA Vice President and event chair Gwynne Lennon, featured an 18-hole, par-three course winding through some of Sea Cliff’s hidden gems, which has largely remained consistent in the event’s 18-year history.
“The objective is to showcase the parks and showcase the scenic backstreets and homes that you don’t get to go through normally,” Lennon said, “so it’s kind of stayed the same, tried and true.”
The event traces its roots to Lennon’s son, Michael, who came up with the idea while he was a college freshman. Lennon recalled seeing him walking through the village with friends carrying golf clubs and learning that they were playing an informal game using telephone poles and garbage cans as targets.
The event was later turned into a fundraiser for the Sea Cliff Village Library before eventually being taken over by the Good of the Village Association. Lennon said the GVA began organizing the tournament in 2015 and holds it every two years to keep the event manageable for its volunteers.
This year’s tournament drew 18 foursomes, or roughly 100 participants, according to Lennon.
Golfers and spectators also had several opportunities to gather throughout the day. Participants began with breakfast and coffee at Matt’s Deli, while Gallagher’s provided chili at the conclusion of the tournament. The awards ceremony was held across from Gallagher’s in Perry Park, with longtime master of ceremonies John Canning returning to lead the festivities.
The tournament also included a raffle, 50-50 drawing, prizes and an auction featuring foursomes at Glen Cove Golf Course, North Shore Country Club and Muttontown.
The event’s winners received the tournament’s traditional green jackets. Maureen Anglis won the women’s Masters title, while Dan Kelly won the men’s Masters. Stephanie Morrissey Leone was the women’s runner-up and Tim Wenger was the men’s runner-up.
Money raised by the tournament goes into the GVA’s general fund. Lennon said the association uses those funds throughout the year to support projects and organizations around the village, including museum passes and restoration efforts involving the fire department bell and Sea Cliff Village Children’s Library.
The event also remains a family affair for Lennon, whose children continue to participate.
“My kids played a lot,” Lennon said. “They’re settled down a little, they all come back. It’s like so much fun for them.”
For more information on the GVA, visit their website GoodVillage.BetterWorld.org.
