Rotary Golf Classic Still Open to Players

There’s a million bucks riding on one sweet swing of the golf club that guides a little dimpled white ball into the bottom of the cup at Deep Cliff Golf Course Saturday during the Cupertino Rotary 19th Annual Golf Classic.

The player that succeeds in the on May 5 will win $1 million, yes, you read that correctly, one-million-smackeroos.

Four qualifying holes (3, 7, 10, 16 plus 18 as a bonus hole) had course spotters watching for closest to the pin during the qualifying week in April. Qualifying golfers are listed on the organization’s Golf Classic website, and include co-chair Wendell Stephens, who said he was a little surprised his shot held up as a qualifier.

“I hit the green on number 3. I was 12 feet out, but I thought, ‘That won’t hold up,’” Stephens said. “I assumed it wasn’t a good enough shot, but it was. I’m very fortunate.”

Patch asked Stephens if he has ever shot a hole-in-one.

“No, never, so I’m due,” he said with a chuckle.

Saturday’s event includes not just the hole-in-one, but also a nine-hole scramble, a putting contest and as Stephens puts it, “if they’re gluttons for punishment we send ‘em back out in the afternoon,” for a round of 18.

There’s a bunch of raffle items including a $5,000 jewelry raffle, and a silent auction with items up for bid such as winery tours and tastings, gourmet wine dinner, financial planning session, a one-hour Bay Area private plane tour, several rounds of golf at various courses, and a whole lot more. Check out the list the Golf Classic website.

Though the hole-in-one qualification period has ended, golfers wishing to join in on what Stephens says is a great social outing, can sign up any time.

Registration fees include continental breakfast, box lunches from Panera Bread, and dinner by Outback Steakhouse.

Hole-in-one shooters will be escorted by Phil Lenihan and his bagpipes to the 18th green where the crowd gathers to watch the attempts.

“People stand up on the sidewalk and either cheer or groan,” Stephens said.

For more information or to sign up, click here.

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