Rain and thunder did not dampen the spirits of the participants last Thursday, as 140 golfers joined at Shelburne Golf and Country Club for 16th annual Greater Dufferin Area Chamber of Commerce Golf Classic.

Sponsored by Sunvale Homes & Living Spaces, it was an 18-hole Best Ball Scramble event and as a bonus feature for the Chamber's fundraising efforts, Arctic Spas Orangeville donated a beautiful billiard table that will be awarded to some lucky individual this fall. Tickets are on sale at Arctic Spa and the Chamber office.

Prior to the opening tee-off, the golfers participated in the Chamber raffle for numerous prizes donated by members of the business community. Each participant received a gift courtesy of Gold Sponsors Canadian Tire, Wal-Mart and Orangeville Home Hardware.

After completing about five holes, the golfers were forced to take refuge from the rain, thunder and lightning, by mingling in the clubhouse enjoying a pizza lunch provided graciously by lunch sponsor Domino's Pizza.

During a break in the weather, a number of foursomes returned to the course and competed two or three additional holes before rain, thunder and lightning made it unsafe to continue.

Golf Professional and Club Owner Sam Young thanked everyone for coming and offered each golfer a free round of golf weekdays and after 3 p.m. on weekends prior to July 31st. The day wrapped up

with a fabulous steak dinner with shortcake dessert and presentation of trophies to various winners.

The Low Gross trophy, sponsored by Humber Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning was won by John and David Tomkin, Mark O'Connell of Arctic Spas Orangeville and Steve Louwes of Headwaters Windows and Doors.

The Second Low Gross trophy, sponsored by Carters Professional Corporation, was captured by Joe Andrews, William Hanna, Ken Harrison and Ray Chateau of Humber Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning.

The Third Lowest Gross, sponsored by Greenwood Construction Ltd., went to John Welton, Don Tremble, Roy Quinton and Jamie George of Sunvale Homes.

Peggy Scobie was awarded the Women's Closest to the Pin trophy, sponsored by Boston Pizza, and the Men's Closest to the Pin Trophy, sponsored by Canadian Tire, was awarded to Mark O'Connell of Arctic Spas Orangeville.

Trophy Sponsor Hart Kushmirez of Orangeville Renovations and Roofing presented the Women's Longest Drive trophy to Christine Murray and the Men's Longest Drive trophy to Alan Claridge.

A special thank-you goes to the courageous volunteers who braved the elements to the qualifying event for the playoff hole prizes donated by Big Tyme Fitness, A.C.T.S. "Headwaters" Family Fitness and Tennis, and Hockley Highlands Inn & Conference Centre.

A wheelbarrow of Canadian Tire money graciously donated by Canadian Tire, which was originally going to be part of the Men's Longest Drive competition, which many golfers were unable to participate in, was instead added to the raffle ticket draw for everyone. The winner was Austin Gale, one of our young helpers from the play-offhole competition, thus making sitting in the rain for the day a great bonus.

Hole-In-One sponsors Marlin Travel and Arctic Spas Orangeville gave prizes of a Trip to Hawaii and a Hot Tub.

Don Fearon of H & F Storage Discount Car & Truck Rental provided the vehicle to transport all the prizes and supplies to the golf club.

An event of such magnitude would not be possible without the 2006 Event Sponsors, Sunvale Homes and Living Spaces; Platinum Sponsors, Scotiabank and Woolwich Dairy, Golf Cart Sponsor; Dufferin County Manufacturers Association, Gold Sponsors; Canadian Tire, Orangeville Home Hardware Building Centre, and Wal-Mart.

The chamber's 2006 Golf Committee consisted of chairperson Tisha Saunders and committee members Bruce Campbell, Jim Swartz, Petra Thomas, Dick Fearon, Bob Long, Brad Dixon, Marg Anquetil, Alyscia Patton, Waldo Henderson and Rita Fournier, who coordinated the planning of this event.

Next year's 17th Annual Golf Classic is scheduled for Thursday July 19, rain or shine.