Eagles On Par

Sophomore Scott Wolfes is a top golfer for the Georgia Southern Eagles. The Jeff Chandler Memorial Golf Outing has contributed thousands of dollars to the golf team. 
Every year at Thanksgiving, a faithful group of Eagle alumni grabs their irons and gathers at the green for a celebratory tee time. For more than 20 years, the group of seven Alpha Tau Omega fraternity brothers has traveled from as far away as Atlanta, Ga., to renew friendships and reminisce about their college days.

What once began as an informal gathering at the Club at Eaglebrooke in Lakeland, Fla., has quickly gained momentum and developed into a charitable cause. Since 2002, the Jeff Chandler Memorial Golf Outing, named in memory of one of the group’s members, has contributed thousands of dollars to Georgia Southern University’s golf team.

 

According to Mark Martin, one of the original members, the tight-knit group all attended Georgia Southern during the 1970s, and decided to start an annual golf reunion after graduation.

“We always gathered to play a round of golf together the day before Thanksgiving, because everyone was in town for the holidays,” Martin said. After Chandler, an avid golfer, passed away in 1998, the friends continued their annual match. In 2002, however, the group had an idea.

“We always placed bets on our matches,” revealed Martin, “and Bill Charles and I said, ‘Why don’t we try to do something in memory of Jeff? We all love our University, we all play golf, and he loved playing golf too.’ ” That year, each participant made individual contributions, with nearly $500 donated in Chandler’s memory to the University’s golf team.

Now 25 players strong, the event has contributed more than $25,000 to the team since its launch. “We even have a trophy for the winner,” said Martin, “and he must return with the trophy and play in the event the following year.”

Participants in the event have always included members of the Chandler family, and in past years, several Georgia Southern alumni golfers such as Logan Blondell, Brannon Rue and Joe Monte have joined in the match.

In 2011, the outing raised $3,000 for the University’s team, which has been used to purchase much-needed equipment for the team’s players. Golf coach Larry Mays is grateful for the generous support from the event.

“We are honored every year to get financial support from the tournament to buy equipment for our team. We have bought range finders, rain suits and a bunch of practice balls with donations from the outing. Mark Martin and the entire group that get together are very supportive Eagles who have helped us with our continuing success,” he said.

The generosity of these participants hasn’t gone unnoticed by other organizations and golf enthusiasts, and they have reciprocated. “A lot of people have been very generous by providing golf clubs, towels, balls and other items so we can put together goody bags for each golfer participating in the event,” said Martin.

Martin also said that this friendly and fun competition on the green has no plans to slow down. “We have a continuing purpose: to give back to our University, keep Jeff’s memory alive and keep our friendship alive and well.”