by admin | Comments Off on Putting all over Bixby Knolls, these leadership-minded golfers tackled the wackiest of holes – Daily News |
By Desiree Rew, Contributing writer
Mini golfers took their short game to Bixby Knolls for a round of “wacky golf” to support a program dedicated to developing Long Beach’s future leaders.
Leadership Long Beach teed up its 10th annual “Putt-Putt on the Knolls” on Sunday, Oct. 27, benefiting Youth Leadership Long Beach, the arm of the program created for students.
Debbie Hughes of Long Beach takes a shot at SteelCraft’s hole during the Putt-Putt in the Knolls miniature golf tournament in the Bixby Knolls area of Long Beach, Ca. Oct. 27, 2019. The event featured golfers playing nine miniature golf holes designed and set up at various businesses. (Leo Jarzomb, Contributing Photographer)
Gizelle Paz of Huntington Beach, center, makes a putt while her friends cheer during the Putt-Putt in the Knolls miniature golf tournament in the Bixby Knolls area of Long Beach, Ca. Oct. 27, 2019. (Leo Jarzomb, Contributing Photographer)
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Avery Call of Long Beach, right, makes a putt while Laurie Norris hula-hoops during the Putt-Putt in the Knolls miniature golf tournament in the Bixby Knolls area of Long Beach, Ca. Oct. 27, 2019. This hole in the event was sponsored by neighboring businesses: Salon Medusa, Recreation Fitness and Cheese Addiction on Atlantic Avenue. (Leo Jarzomb, Contributing Photographer)
Dutch’s Brewhouse patrons cheer when their number hole wins during the Putt-Putt in the Knolls miniature golf tournament in the Bixby Knolls area of Long Beach, Ca. Oct. 27, 2019. Dutch’s Brewhouse built a Rube Goldberg type miniature golf hole featuring a bicycle-powered lift, long ball rolling rails and a pachinko machine finish that randomly deposits the ball in one of three buckets. (Leo Jarzomb, Contributing Photographer)
Dutch’s Brewhouse owner Jason Van Fleet, second from left, Kevin McPherson and Sean Casey, on the bike, watch their ball travel during the Putt-Putt in the Knolls miniature golf tournament in the Bixby Knolls area of Long Beach, Ca. Oct. 27, 2019. Dutch’s Brewhouse built a Rube Goldberg type miniature golf hole featuring a bicycle-powered lift, long ball rolling rails and a pachinko machine finish that randomly deposits the ball in one of three buckets. (Leo Jarzomb, Contributing Photographer)
Dutch’s Brewhouse built a Rube Goldberg type miniature golf hole featuring a bicycle-powered lift, long ball rolling rails and a pachinko machine finish that randomly deposits the ball in one of three buckets for the Putt-Putt in the Knolls miniature golf tournament in the Bixby Knolls area of Long Beach, Ca. Oct. 27, 2019. (Leo Jarzomb, Contributing Photographer)
Golfers take shots at SteelCraft’s hole during the Putt-Putt in the Knolls miniature golf tournament in the Bixby Knolls area of Long Beach, Ca. Oct. 27, 2019. The event featured golfers playing nine miniature golf holes designed and set up at various businesses. (Leo Jarzomb, Contributing Photographer)
About 140 players walked Atlantic and Long Beach Avenues to complete custom courses put together by Bixby Knolls businesses. Players boarded special transportation provided by Long Beach Transit with their costumes and golf clubs in hand ready for an afternoon of fun-raising.
Cait Yoshioka, Leadership Long Beach alumni and one of the events organizers, encouraged riders to “get pumped for putt-putt” getting the crowd energized before the games begin.
“This is our biggest fundraiser” explained Cathy Geist, president of Leadership Long Beach and alumni. “Proceeds from today are designated specifically for our Leadership Long Beach youth program. It’s a seven-month program free to high school students that teaches leadership principals. Not all can afford to participate in a program such as this.”
Twenty-four businesses joined in the festivities by sponsoring holes and building their own courses along with donating to the prizes.
The Bixby Knolls businesses included restaurants, salons and the popular SteelCraft Long Beach.
David Godot, PsyD, CEO and clinical director of Psych Lab Psychology Center, a group psychology practice, welcomed golfers with snacks and his own unique course. He sees his practice as “part of the community,” he explained, which is why it was important for him to support the Leadership Long Beach initiative.
“We also wanted to shine a light on Bixby Knolls businesses” stated Geist. ” We want to bring people to the area, get them excited about Leadership Long Beach, its mission and maybe even sponsor a youth.”
According to Geist the youth program currently has 32 students participating from nine Long Beach high schools.
