By Samantha Meyer
Beacon Correspondent
More than 150 golfers will take their swing at the sixth annual Alger County Veterans Golf Scramble at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 16, at the Pictured Rocks Golf Course to raise funds for local veterans.
The goal is to raise $20,000 for the four military organizations in Alger County: the Marine Corps League, the Vietnam Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. The golf scramble began during the pandemic in 2020 to help raise funds for each of the four organizations.
“It’s nothing serious,” committee chairman Arland Brock said. “It’s a day of fun, family, friends, veterans, men, women to just get out, have a good time, laugh and have a good meal when we’re all done.”
During the event, 40 four-person teams will tee off in two divisions: co-ed and all men (or three men and one woman). The 18-hole event has 150 hole sponsors from across the country — Hawaii, Washington state, California, Florida and all over the Midwest, Brock said. His son travels for work and secures hole sponsors for the golf scramble as he goes.
The hope is to raise at least $5,000 for each organization. In 2024, the event raised $20,400, and each local organization received $5,100 from the event. Most of the money raised goes back into the local community in the form of scholarships for the schools, backpack programs, Christmas parties for children, donations to youth golf and support for the Alger Parks and Recreation Department.
Registration for the event opened in June, and all 40 team slots were filled within three weeks. There is a waitlist for slots; however, Brock does not anticipate any teams dropping out. Although registration is full, the public is invited to come to the event to enjoy the day. The Michigan National Guard will have a vehicle display and staff on hand to answer questions. There will also be a raffle during the event.
Brock would like attendees to “leave knowing they had a good time, that they were there for a purpose — to support the veterans of Alger County. … That’s what we look for.”
Donations can be made at the event or by calling Arland Brock at 906-202-0027 or Toni Denman at 906-202-0777. The Alger County Veterans Affairs organization created a Facebook page for the event; search “Alger County Veterans Golf Scramble” for details. The Pictured Rocks Golf Course is located at E10240 County Road H-58 in Munising.