By Sam McClanahan
Four Trigg County men, all who share a passion for golf along with being personally affected by cancer, brought their fundraising mission to Pendleton County last week as they inch closer to achieving a goal that is over a decade in the making.
"Golfing Kentucky For a Cure" was started by retired Trigg County basketball coach Mike Wright as a way to honor his late father, who passed away in 2007 after a five-year battle with stage four cancer. Wright brainstormed a unique, challenging but fun objective in order to honor his father's memory while also raising money for cancer research. Wright, along with three other Trigg County men: Al Starnes, Mike McGill, and Shawn Williamson, joined forces in striving to play every golf course in the state, all 239 of them, all while raising money for their cause and exploring the commonwealth from one end to the other. Each man brings his own personal connection to cancer. Starnes along with his wife, were both diagnosed in 2013 and overcame the disease together. Williamson lost his beloved wife at the young age of 39, and has also overcome his cancer diagnosis.
The foursome arrived in Pendleton County on June 4 where they first played 18 holes at Pendleton Hills followed by a nine-hole round at Kincaid Lake Golf Course. Wright said the group was blown away by the scenic beauty that Pendleton County offers.
"We thoroughly enjoyed our time in Pendleton County and thought it was one of the best trips we've been apart of since starting this journey," Wright said. "The hills and views we were able to see are some of the most beautiful sights in this state. The courses at Pendleton Hills and at Kincaid were both very well-groomed and they both presented different challenges during our round. The best part was being able to meet the owners and be treated with top-notch service from their staff members. It was an amazing experience and we look forward to being able to visit Pendleton County again soon," Wright said.
To date, the foursome has visited over 100 counties and played over 140 courses. That leaves about 20 counties and around 100 courses left to conquer. They've also raised nearly $20,000 so far. Upon each destination, the foursome will donate the entire cost of their round, green fees and cart to an account at a FNB bank in Cadiz. The group also eats at a locally owned restaurant in the area and they document each stop with a photo.
For anyone wanting to contribute, checks can be made to Golfing For a Cure at the FNB in Cadiz, KY. You can also visit their website golfingkentuckyforacure.com for frequent updates on their mission to fight back against cancer one golf course at a time.