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LCs Help Their Own at Golf Tournament08-02-13 | News

LCs Help Their Own at Golf Tournament

Joseph Deyoung, sales estimator for Benchmark Landscapes, practices his putting prior to the start of the San Diego Chapter CLCA Annual Golf Tournament, held on Aug. 2 at the Crossing Golf Club in Carlsbad, Calif.

Ask any landscape contractor what's the best way to give back to the industry and most of them will tell you they enjoy hitting the little white ball on the links. On Aug. 2 about 130 players participated in the San Diego Chapter CLCA Annual Golf Tournament at the Crossing Golf Club in Carlsbad, Calif. This was an increase of about 20 more participants than last year, said tournament organizer Neb Keeton.

"This is a pretty good turn out, especially in a down economy," said Keeton. "I've been organizing this tournament for the past six years and we change the location every time."

Tee and hole sponsorships are augmented with raffle prizes, with CLCA members donating their time. The proceeds from the tournament go to the association and raising scholarships for the LEAF Foundation.

"This is the first time I've played in a while, so I decided to join some of the company workers," said Albert Lopez, a landscape contractor for the Menafee Unified School District. "This is my first time going to a CLCA event and I just want to have fun and play some golf."

Joseph Deyoung, a sales estimator for Benchmark Landscapes, was asked by a couple of his suppliers to join them. In the 14 years of playing in the tournament, which he won about a dozen years ago, he has another fond memory.

"I won the raffle drawing for a seven-day, all-expenses paid vacation at the U.S. Open, held at Torrey Pines in 2008," said Deyoung. "I had an awesome time and it was the last time Tiger Woods won a major championship."

Justin Hopkins used to tag along with Valley Crest Landscapes, but this time he got the invitation from a couple of his vendors, KRC Rock and Thompson Building Materials.

"My goals are to play golf, have some fun and see people I work with," said Hopkins, a project manager for Western Outdoor Design & Build. "I've got a decent golf game and my drive is the best part, but we'll have to see what happens today."