ASHEVILLE &mdash It was a typical week on golf courses around Western North Carolina.
At The Golf Course at Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa, the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce Tournament had dozens of teams playing in morning and afternoon rounds. At Etowah Valley Country Club, the seventh annual Arby’s Child’s Advocacy Classic dodged the rain and raised thousands of dollars for child abuse prevention. And newcomer Balsam Mountain Preserve held its inaugural Charity Classic, with the hopes of raising about $10,000 for several Jackson County organizations. Instead, about 90 players enjoying the Arnold Palmer Signature design near Sylva raised $30,000. Even during lean economic times, golf tournaments are still a valuable fundraising tool for local organizations that serve charities and other groups. “It was a great day and a great event for us,” said Chris Chaffin, president of Balsam Mountain Preserve. “Not only did the golfers get the opportunity to play our spectacular course, but they were able to support local charities and the really important work they do in our communities. We are proud of the success we had with this event in its first year and look forward to doing it again next year.”
Eblen-Kimmel Charities holds a pair of successful golf tournaments each year at The Cliffs at Walnut Cove &mdash headlined by sports celebrities Brad Johnson and Brad Daugherty &mdash that raises hundreds of thousands of dollars.