ANNUAL BARSTOOL OPEN RETURNS TO THE OREGON DISTRICT

By Emma Jarman

Dayton City Paper

Photo: The Annual Barstool Open will take place Nov. 14 in the Oregon District

If you’ve ever found yourself wondering what it may be like to play putt-putt golf in nine different bars in one afternoon with a couple hundred of your very closest friends—as friends tend to become when you spend nine bars-worth of time with them—all while supporting a great cause, I have some wonderful news: It’s time for the Annual Barstool Open! Hosted by the United Rehabilitation Services of Greater Dayton (URS), the 14th annual installment of the event will tee off Saturday, Nov. 14 at 11:00 a.m. at various locations in the Oregon District.

The Barstool Open is a considerable fundraiser for the URS, a local philanthropy committed to providing compassionate care to infants, children, adults and seniors with disabilities or other special needs in the Dayton community. The money raised will help URS continue to provide vital programs and specialized therapy services to local children and adults with disabilities or other special needs. URS offers many unique services including the region’s only special needs childcare center with nurses on staff and physical, occupational and speech therapies.

“It is wonderful to work for a local organization with an incredible administrative cost of only 8.87 percent, where all of the funds stay right here in our community and truly make an impact on the lives of people with disabilities,” says Ashley Crawford, URS communications and events coordinator. “The Barstool is a fun event that brings together friends to raise money for a great cause. We hope that the teams have a great time and learn more about the services we provide to children and adults with disabilities.”

The Barstool Open was first hosted in 1998, after URS Board Member and long-time supporter Jim Ping learned of the event idea at a training conference and brought it back to the organization. The second tournament was held in 2002 and the tradition has continued ever since. The 2014 tournament saw 64 foursomes stroke their way to raising $10,000.

While it is the Oregon District and it will be smack dab in the middle of a Saturday afternoon, there are some rules for fair play. Participants must be at least 21 years old and each team is required to have a designated driver (Uber chauffeurs are permissible, particularly since 6 p.m. Saturday is hardly peak time). Teams of four can pick up a registration form at any of the participating bar locations or ursdayton.org. The event has a shotgun start at 11 a.m. and will travel in order to each participating bar location. All scorecards must be turned into the volunteers by 5 p.m. to be eligible for prizes, explains Crawford.

The participating bars this year are Dublin Pub, Warped Wing, Ned Pepper’s, Wiley’s Comedy Club, Oregon Express, Toxic Brew Company, Blind Bob’s, Tumbleweed Connection and Trolley Stop. If the list looks familiar, it’s because it is. These are the same locations from last year, though themes often change. Each bar is responsible for creating their own hole and while some bars use tried and true constructions from year to year, others change their holes completely, instituting different layouts and themes for each new event.

Teams are also encouraged to play to the golfer theme with costumes and character in this BYOP (bring your own putter) gathering. Fellas, pull on your polo shirts, argyle socks and inflated sense of accuracy. Ladies, I present you one last chance to wear weather-inappropriate pleated skirts and tube socks far past the typical Halloween deadline. “We have prizes for the best score and best team costume and will mail those to our winners!” says Crawford. “There is also a contest for the Best Hole and the winning bar gets to display the traveling trophy for the year.”

Funds are raised for URS solely via ticket sales, though the bars do donate goods and services for raffle prizes.

The Barstool Open is the region’s only “indoor, crazy-fun, nine-bar miniature golf tournament” (shocking, no?) so don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to show off your polished putting game, getting your day-drink on and contributing to a great, local cause.

The Annual Barstool Open will tee off Saturday, Nov. 14 at 11 a.m. in the Oregon District. Cost per team is $140. To register, visit any of the participating bars or ursdayton.org for a registration form. Turn in your form and payment to a participating bar or mail it to URS at 4710 Old Troy Pike, Dayton, OH 45424. Teams can also register the morning of the event outside of Blind Bob’s. Participants can register and start at any one of the nine bars of their choice until there are 10 teams registered per bar. For more information, or to donate to the organizations, visit ursdayton.org.

Reach freelance writer Emma Jarman at EmmaJarman@DaytonCityPaper.com.