Summer brings golf outings. A golfer could play in several each week from now until fall. They all start to look so similar that you need to check the dinner program to see who you’re supporting.
I’ve played in many and organized a few. None are as fun as the Lipstick Open. It was started in 2000 by four friends—Mary Sue Bartlett, Bev Schomaker, Karen McCoy and Joan Sevey—out of necessity when they missed the cut off to play in another popular women’s outing. “We just said, ‘Let’s start our own outing’ and each put together a foursome,” said Bartlett. The event grew to 26 foursomes last year on its 7th Anniversary on 7/7/2007.
“Our original goal was 100 golfers. We’ve had women from Columbus Junction and another who was visiting from Arizona who joined us. Joan Sevey has moved to Springfield, Mo. but tries to get back often,” said Bartlett.
The golf outing is ladies only (sorry guys!). No official scores are kept so there is no pressure. Every hole has a flag event (closest to the pin, longest drive, etc.). Each participant gets a prize at the end of day. “Local businesses have been so generous in supporting the outing. We really appreciate all of them,” Bartlett said.
In addition, there are great goodies just for registering, such as cell phone carriers, green repair tools or coffee mugs. All feature the signature “lips,” which have a fun history of their own.
“We were all sitting around at our first meeting talking about our logo. We decided we’d all put on bright pink lipstick, plant a kiss on a piece of paper and the cutest pucker would become the logo!” Bartlett said. “Joan Sevey’s lips won and have lived in glamour ever since.”
Volunteers help with registration to make it a smooth process. Some don’t even play golf, they just want to be part of the fun. Foursomes’ photos are taken before teeing off and are given out at dinner.
The outing is also a way to help other women. Proceeds from a raffle and mulligan sales go to a local charity. Some past raffle items included golf bags, four passes to Glen Oaks Golf Club in Des Moines, and an overnight package to the casino in Tama. The Open has donated money to breast cancer research, the women’s shelter and last year, $1,000 to House of Hope in Waterloo.
For the past several years the event has been hosted by South Hills Golf Course. Pro Monte Meyer does all the cooking for dinner featuring his famous bloody burgers or grilled chicken, yummy green beans, salad and dessert. And while everyone wins a prize, a special “booby prize” is given to the golfers with the highest score (but it’s a sweet prize!).
The organizers make it easy for women to participate with a 1 p.m. shot gun start. “If anyone wants to work in the morning, they can still join us without taking off a whole day,” said Shomaker.
If you’d like to participate, the date for this year’s Lipstick Open is June 12. Contact any of the three organizers: bshoey@cfu.net; kmccoy@wlpnet.net; mary-suebartlett@cfu.net.
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