Oct. 19 date set for Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club charity tournament

The Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club will hold its 11th annual charity tournament Monday, Oct. 19, complete with COVID-19 safeguards, at The Peninsula course in Millsboro. The proceeds support local organizations helping youth, adult literacy programs, and efforts to deal with the opioid epidemic, as well as Rotary International’s ongoing drive against polio.

Registration starts at 10 a.m., with a shotgun start at noon. The entry fees cover the golf, cart, range, drink tickets, box lunch and a sit-down dinner. Early-registration discounts apply until Monday, Oct. 12.

Several sponsors are already on board, including Chesapeake Utilities and Schell Brothers, but additional partnership opportunities remain.

For more information, contact Dan Reed at friends59dan@webmail.us, or go to www.longnecksunriserotaryclub.com/projects-2.

Cape Region courses make Golfweek’s Best in Delaware list

Golfweek announced its 2020 list of state-by-state Best Courses You Can Play on July 31, and the Cape Region is well represented.

Bayside Resort in Fenwick Island led the Delaware list, with Baywood Greens (Long Neck) in second and Bear Trap Dunes (Bethany Beach) in fifth.

Golftini optimistic about remainder of golf season and beyond

Golf equipment and apparel sales bounced back nicely as the pandemic issues continued to subside, according to the National Golf Foundation and other golf business sources.

Golftini is an women’s apparel company that is now enjoying the ride.

Owner Susan Hess has been a regular at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Fla., every January since 2005. When I stopped by during this year’s show, she had significantly expanded her booth space.

“It’s been crazy busy,” she said. “With the bigger space we have lots more to display, and we don’t crash into each other while we’re moving around.”

Golftini clothes are sold at more than 500 pro shops worldwide, including Rehoboth Beach Country Club. They can also be found at specialty retail stores, in addition to direct-to-consumer sales on the company’s website (goftiniwear.com). Its skorts, pants, tops and outerwear are sold in Great Britain and Europe, and recently expanded to Australia.

The company specializes in printed and patterned skorts. The patterns are designed and picked by Hess, the CEO/designer. Golftini is a bit different from many women's brands as its tops are all solid, dyed to match and coordinate with its printed bottoms. 

The company started offering stretch cotton products 15 years ago but adjusted its product mix as trends changed. “We now offer our skorts in three different fabrications and six different styles,” Hess said. “We really listen to our customers as to what they want, and we can adapt very quickly.” 

“The pandemic has been a very scary time, especially at the beginning in March when we just had no idea what was going to happen. As time went by, we really just went from our gut. What is best for our company, our customers and our sales reps? Those were the things we talked about most days. We decided to come out better on the other side of this whole thing," Hess said recently.

"This wasn't easy, and we are still not through this, but we feel good about what we are doing. Golf is on the rise and one of the only sports that you can do safely. We are riding the wave. Listening to customers and making changes every single day. We want to give our customers more products, because they are asking for them,” she said. “I hope this all straightens out and we get to see our customers in person in the near future. For now, it's Zoom, virtual fashion shows and change!”

Golftini has also partnered with Royal Albartross to add a few men’s items to its website store, including belts and shoes aimed at the premium market.

Hess made a good guess in deciding to expand her PGA Show booth this year. Every time I walked by it, there was a large crowd in front as she and her people were busy taking orders for the coming season.

I took that as a good omen, despite the pandemic. If the news on that front continues to improve, Golftini should do just fine.

Local club competition results

The Mulligan’s Pointe Ladies golf group played a team Stableford game Sept. 8, won by Brenda Joyce and Susan Shockley.

Brenda Lewis and Dee Prillaman took second place, with Retta Rose Frampton and Kathy Hudak coming in third.

The Kings Creek Ladies 18-Hole group played a Low Putts game Sept. 3.

Erin Reid won the first flight, with Jean Chlastawa in second, Anita Pettitt in third and Sheree Davis in fourth.

Jeannine Doane won the second flight, with Tricia Ritthaler in second, Katie Heintz in third and Marsha McLaurin in fourth.

Margaret Moore won the third flight, with Atom Irwin in second, Nancy Froome in third and Vicki Martina in fourth.

Yona Zucker won the fourth flight, with Patricia Magee in second, Carol Loewen in third and Linda Eicher in fourth.