Christmas Caddy golf tourney brings joyous holiday to Marble Falls families

MARBLE FALLS — The first Christmas Caddy Golf Tournament had a goal to raise a total of $6,000 for 12 families during the holiday season.

But the event missed it — in a good way.

The collaboration between area churches and businesses instead raised more than $10,200 for 15 families and 60 children. The money was used to purchase clothing, food and Christmas presents.

“I really think it was a success on a more important note: the community coming together and believing in an event that had no prior clout,” said organizer Stephen Galan, associate minister at Lake Shores Church in Marble Falls. “People took a risk of giving to this event this year not knowing its track record, and it was great seeing the whole community coming together to trust in this.”

The Dec. 1 tournament at Hidden Falls Golf Club in Meadowlakes had 27 businesses help sponsor the event and a nearly maxed-out field of 110 golfers, Galan said.

With a successful tournament after less than a year’s worth of planning, Galan said he hopes the tournament can grow in popularity and become its own 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 2013.

For that to happen, though, Galan said sponsors and volunteers will be needed.

“What makes this (tournament) unique, and what contributes to its success is that it’s a bunch of people teaming together to say ‘don’t help me, help our fellow neighbor,'” Galan said.

For more on the tournament or ways to be involved, call Galan at Lake Shores Church, (512) 695-5998.

jared@thepicayune.com