2022 WATA Golf Outing
Posted by [email protected] on Aug. 23, 2022 / Subscribe 0
There will be people who always come out to our Wisconsin Athletic Trainers’ Association (WATA) events. Guys like David Leigh and Vergamini and Popper” said Governmental Affairs Committee Chair, Mike Van Veghel. And why wouldn’t these guys come out? Many of them were involved in the early years of the WATA. They helped create the outstanding reputation of the WATA advancing the profession forward!
The 2022 WATA Golf Outing was held at the Oaks Golf Course in Cottage Grove, WI on Thursday, July 28th. The Oaks Golf Course is about one hour and fifteen minutes from Milwaukee, about two and a half hours from Green Bay, and about two and a half hours from La Crosse. Once you exit the freeway, the golf course is a 2-mile drive. The road winds along gentle curves and rolling hills that mimic the path on the golf course. The clubhouse sits on top of a hill. Looking from the clubhouse you can see the course spread out in all four directions.
Inside the clubhouse, athletic trainers checked in at the registration table. Most golfers were pre-registered, but we welcomed a few on-site registrations, too. Teams received their assigned golf carts. Golfers received name tags and a golf outing brochure. Wristbands were available to purchase that included (1) mulligan, (1) putting contest entry, and (5) raffle tickets. Golf carts were lined outside the clubhouse with the names of golfers displayed on the front of the carts.
Looking around, you noticed that athletic trainers are no strangers to the polo clothing style commonly seen on the golf course. The polos of athletic trainers proudly displayed the logos of the athletic programs of which they are a part of. A polo with a pop of orange had the logo of the Carroll University Pioneers, a solid purple polo had the logo from the UW Whitewater Warhawks, and a navy-blue polo had a Marquette University logo on it.
The golf outing was a scramble style game. Just before the 9am shotgun start, WATA president Keith Owsley addressed the golf teams. Afterwards, golfers spread throughout the course to their assigned holes.
The putting contest progressed throughout the morning. Golfers made their way around the course. They drove the course down the hill, pass behind the clubhouse, and found the putting contest before arriving to hole # 1.
It was surprising to learn that, of the 40 golfers who were joining the WATA on the golf course, not all the golfers were athletic trainers. Some were family and friends’ of athletic trainers who had long careers in the profession and volunteer service to the WATA.
Events were spread throughout the course. Events included longest putt, longest drive in the fairway, and closest to the pin, with winners in both men’s and women’s. Sponsored holes were sprinkled throughout the golf course. A few sponsors are well known in sports medicine like Gatorade, Medco, and DJO is now Enovis. There were local sponsors like Mueller Sports Medicine, Bellinhealth Titletown, UW Health, Twin Cities Orthopedics, and Strive. Some of our friends went the extra mile to sponsor a hole, like James (Popper) Popp, Trampf Consulting, and OrthoVise.
On the opposite side of the putting contest, sitting on top of the hill, next to the clubhouse, is hole 10. It was a sunny tee with little shade and little wind. The sky was blue with puffy white clouds that would block the sun occasionally, to provide some shade. Around late morning, a cold keg of spotted cow was placed at hole 10. The Southeast Representative and the Communication Chair thought hole 10 sounded like the perfect place to chat with golfers as they came through.
Golfers wrapped up their games at about 1:30pm and gathered in the clubhouse. Lunch was ready to be served and waiting for golfers. A huge bowl of cold, broccoli, ranch, pasta salad was placed at the beginning of the buffet line. It is one of the Wisconsin summer picnic staples and tasted delicious after a long morning on the course. The rest of the buffet included baked beans, pulled pork sandwiches, grilled chicken sandwiches, and cookies. There was free spotted cow at the bar to pair with lunch.
The clubhouse was full. Looking around, golf teams of athletic trainers were sitting at tables in groups of four or eight talking to each other. As everyone finished lunch, winners of the on-course events were announced. The three finalists in the putting contest, took one more putt to see who would win the 50/50 prize.
In addition to simply registering to come to the golf outing, raffles provided one last game for athletic trainers. Prizes included a Wisconsin Badgers apparel package, a Milwaukee Brewers jersey signed by Luis Urais, a golf bag donated by the Oaks Golf Course, and a variety of adult beverage packages. All the proceeds of the golf outing go to funding the WATA research grants and scholarships.
Our event sponsor John Orwin is another one of those guys who will always come out to the golf outing. John Orwin built his career as an orthopedic medical doctor at UW-Health. On hole 10, He shared with our Communications Chair that he had a lot of respect for the athletic training profession. In the past the golf outing would rotate locations around the state each year, and he recalls making the drive to each one, no matter where the golf outing was. Orwin’s continued advocacy and sponsorship are a true testament to the Wisconsin athletic trainers’ association.
Be a part of advancing the profession forward in Wisconsin by joining our events all year long!
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