The 17th Annual Toy Closet Golf Outing at Lyman Orchards Golf Club in Middlefield, Connecticut came off without a hitch even though Hurricane Earl threatened to post pone it. Organizers got ahead of the storm and kicked if off nearly two hours earlier to get it all in before the winds kicked up, but in the end Earl was a dud and the day was a sparkler on which to raise money for children.

I founded the Toy Closet Program in 1993 so that all children admitted to Yale-New Haven hospital could be comforted with a trip to a toy closet. Each year this golf outing raises thousands to ensure that children can continue getting a toy or a game, or some other item that will comfort them while they are in the hospital.

To the organizers for seventeen years running, thank you for your kindness, you are saints. They are: Keith Goodson, Debbie Klotzer, Jim Kovach, Andy Laudano, Mike Matthews, Wendy O’Brien, Tony Raccio, Tom Roche and Charlie Torre, Jr. Each year the outing is sold out. We play both courses at Lyman Orchards in Middlefield, how many scrambles can say that? My job every year is to help start the players and then drive the “refreshment” cart with organizers Debbie Klotzer and Wendy O’Brien. You have to see this trio to believe it.

Thank you to the wonderful sponsors of the outing and to Lyman Orchards. If you want to play next year, it will be the Friday before Labor Day. See you next year!

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