Golfing "Fore!" a good cause

Firelands Red Cross Press Release

SANDUSKY, Ohio, April 6, 2005 -- Grab your putter and head for the greens! The 14th annual American Red Cross Miniature Golf Challenge at Cedar Point amusement park/resort is set to tee off on Wednesday, May 4 at 4:30 p.m. Registration will begin at 4 p.m. Proceeds from the competition will help raise money for the Firelands Chapter of the American Red Cross.

Conveniently located between the towering rides and roller coasters of Cedar Point amusement park/resort and the refreshing waters of Soak City, Challenge Park is an entertainment complex the entire family will enjoy. Challenge Park features two go-kart tracks, two 18-hole miniature golf courses, X-Treme Trampoline and the RipCord Skycoasters. Also included is a state-of-the-art arcade and a food stand with hot dogs, popcorn and soft drinks. (RipCord, X-Treme Trampoline and the arcade will not be open during this event. The Grand Prix track will be open from 6-8 p.m. Riders must be at least 16 years old. Proper ID required.)

The tournament will be a four-person, 36-hole scramble with a shotgun start at 4:30 p.m. Teams of four can enter the challenge for $120 or individuals can enter for $30 each. Individuals will be placed on a team. Prizes will be awarded to the top three teams. Deadline for registration is Wednesday, April 20.

Those who prefer to cheer on their favorite team instead of competing can gain complimentary admission to the event by purchasing three raffle tickets. The tickets can be purchased for $5. A raffle will be held for the chance to win a Cedar Point getaway package. This year's prize is valued at more than $800! The winner will receive an overnight stay in a 10th floor Horizon Suite in Breakers ower, which includes a Jacuzzi and panoramic views of Lake Erie, on Saturday, June 11, along with four one-day admission tickets to the amusement park.

Businesses and individuals looking for a way to contribute to the fund-raiser can do so by sponsoring one or more of the holes at Challenge Golf. For a $50 sponsorship fee per hole, the name of the business or individual will be featured on a special sign placed at the tee-off point of one of the holes. Businesses can specify what hole they would like to sponsor or one will be chosen for them.

Cedar Point and Challenge Park will be open daily Saturday, May 7 through Labor Day, Sept. 5. (Challenge Park will open on Friday night, May 6.) They will reopen for Bonus Weekends and HalloWeekends on Friday nights, Saturdays and Sundays, Sept. 9-11, 16-18, 23-25, 30, Oct. 1-2, 7-9, 14-16, 21-23 and 28-30.

Sign-up sheets, hole sponsorship information and raffle tickets for the Cedar Point getaway package are available at the American Red Cross office at 300 Central Ave. in Sandusky. For more information about the fund-raiser, please call the Firelands Chapter of the American Red Cross at 419.626.1641 or toll-free at 1.800.589.2286