Here’s the bottom line, across five decades VCS has been there for us, each and every one of us, whether we rely directly on their services or rely on the strength of the Rockland County community for our families and our businesses to thrive. Without VCS, the Rockland community fabric would not be as strong as it is, with so many people enjoying a good life, with a good future and a positive outlook. 

VCS has been there for us. The time is now at hand for us to be there for VCS. And all that is being asked of you is to enjoy a day of golf and shell out a bit of cash to help empower YOUR community. 

Click here for the nuts-and-bolts of this golfing extravaganza that will in its own special way strengthen the community. Keep in mind that yes, this will be all fun and games; and the day will include breakfast, all day on-the-course barbeque lunch and beverages (including beer), a post-golfing cocktail hour, dinner and prizes. Also, keep in mind that a range of sponsorships are available to purchase, so local businesses along with individuals are most welcome to step right up and expand their support. Click here for all the sponsorship information. And if you can’t make the golf outing, we totally understand and would gladly welcome your donation all the same.

So for those of you who can attend, as you clear your calendar, reach for that credit card or hunt for that check book, let’s take a closer look at this time-honored tradition we call golf. 

According to the Keiser University College of Golf, there’s more to this sport than meets the eye. Consider if you would: 

• The French word “Cadet” (cad-DAY) means “youngest child” and is where the word “Caddy” comes from.
• A golf ball will travel further on hot days, because the air is less dense, so it takes less velocity to travel.
• Golf balls used to be made from leather and chicken or goose feathers. One ball would cost $10-20.
• Kassandra Komma from Oakland University has recorded two holes-in-one during a nine round game.
• Only two sports have ever been played while on the moon. One is golf and the other is the javelin throw.
• Until the invention and rising popularity of the golf tee, golfers played off of sand piles they built themselves.
• If you walked all eighteen holes instead of riding in a golf cart, you would walk approximately four miles.

And now for a little history, also courtesy of the Keiser University College of Golf. 

The modern game of golf, with 18 holes, “traces its origins back to 15th century Scotland,” according to collegeofgolf.keiseruniversity.edu. 

“The game is first mentioned in an Act of Scottish Parliament in 1457, which called for it to be banned alongside football. King James II of Scotland prohibited the playing of games as it was a distraction from military training, and he felt perfecting archery would be a more worthwhile sporting pursuit.

“After several more bannings throughout the 15th century and golf being lambasted as an unprofitable sport, restrictions on playing the game were removed with the Treaty of Glasgow coming into effect in 1502.”

And how about the spread of golf to American shores, which ultimately set the stage for the VCS golf outing in August? 

“A shipment of golf equipment to Charleston, South Carolina in 1739, aided in the founding of the South Carolina Golf Club in 1787,” and there was “an advertisement for golf clubs and balls in the Royal Gazette of New York City in 1779.”

However, golf didn’t gain any real traction in the U.S. until the early 19th century. 

“In 1894 the United States Golf Association was formed to become ambassadors for the game in the states, which by 1910 was host to 267 golf clubs,” according to Keiser.

And my how the game has grown. 

According to the National Golf Foundation, “Golf's overall reach is an estimated 101 Million—one out of every three Americans age 6+ played golf (on-course or off-course), watched the sport or read about it in 2020.”

Maybe that includes you? Maybe that could include you? In either case, you can join in on the fun and help generate some buzz on Aug. 2. That’s when we’ll all gather to celebrate the American twist on a Scottish game in support of the Rockland County community, the powers of good to help it grow and the engine behind it all, VCS.