Copperas Cove Exchange Club holds annual golf tournament

By PAMELA GRANT
Cove Leader-Press

Saturday was a beautiful morning for golf with good weather and minimal wind, especially compared with last week’s weather.
Copperas Cove’s Exchange Club hosted their 22nd Annual Exchange Club Golf Tournament Saturday morning with a four-person scramble starting at 8:30 a.m. All proceeds for the event will be used to benefit child abuse prevention and supportive organizations within the community.
“It’s about child abuse prevention,” said Clinton Brown who helped organize the event. “We support organizations within our community like Operation Stand Down, Rainbow Room, and other organizations. When they need things, we donate items to them and assist them with what they need.”
Brown said that with everything going on in the world, it is more important than ever to make sure that they have the support that they need and items available to help. The Exchange Club’s three main goals are child abuse prevention, Americanism, and community service.
“It’s a good cause,” said Cooper Carlton, CCISD golf coach and special education teacher. “I always like to support the Exchange Club and I know that the proceeds go towards child abuse prevention…I see how important it is that kids have everything they need to be successful and any little bit that I can do to help—even if it’s just playing in a golf tournament—I’ll do.”
Jeff Davis, pro shop manager and tournament director, also participated in the tournament. Davis said that he was on a team of veterans. Davis served in the Marine Corp and the Army. He said that he loves playing golf.
“It’s relaxing,” said Davis. “It’s a sport that you can play regardless of age. So hopefully when I’m 80, I’ll still be out here playing.”
One of the big draws for the tournament was a $5,000 prize for the first one to make a hole-in-one on the 8th hole. This was the first weekend that the hole was open as they had blocked it off to allow the green to grow properly.
Chong Crawford, who owns the C&C Sporting Goods Store participated in the golf tournament alongside her husband. She said that she loves golfing and enjoys the challenge. She said that she’s not too bad or too good, so she can play along with anyone. Crawford added that she loves how much effort those who work at the golf course have put in to make sure that the course looks really good.
“We’re here to support the community,” said Crawford. “The golf course community has to support the city community to make Copperas Cove better.”
Saturday’s tournament had a very big turnout with approximately 80 golfers and several additional volunteers. Clinton Brown said that he was very excited about that as he had only expected about 50 participants.
“That tells me that the people in this community are all about supporting each other, and we really want to thank them for that,” said Brown. “There’s a great atmosphere in Copperas Cove and we support each other.”