Danny Baker hits a chips shot from his handicapped-accessible golf cart during the grand opening of the Ken Lanning Golf Center at Turkey Creek on April 29. Event organizers for Saturday's event hope to buy one or two of these carts in the near future, but the cost is a high one --- $15,000 or $20,000 apiece.

July 26, 2016

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. --- What are you doing Saturday morning?

Mowing the lawn can wait ... here's a better idea.

How about a great time for a great cause at a great price?

Turkey Creek Golf Center is hosting Take a Swing for Charity!, an event that will help raise money for golf clinics and other expenses at the nationally-acclaimed Ken Lanning Golf Center.

"It's intended to be a great, family fun-fest," Executive Director of the Missouri Mental Health Foundation (MMHF) Patty Henry said. "It's a time for children, parents and grandparents to come together and enjoy a few hours of unlimited fun."

Each attendee can enjoy unlimited rounds of miniature golf, there will be a bounce house, bean bag toss, face painting, animal balloons and live music by B.J. Davis.

In addition, JC Rocks --- the newest local trend that's actually a sane, fun endeavor, unlike the Pokeman craze --- will have a tent where families can paint rocks, which they can in turn hide throughout the city.

The event runs from 9 a.m.-noon. Cost? $5. I dare you to find more entertainment for $5.

There will also be drinks, hot dogs, chips and other snacks available for purchase, with proceeds going towards the purchase of everything from specialized golf clubs to handicapped-accessible golf carts, which alone cost $15,000-$20,000 apiece.

"Ideally," Henry said, "that's what we want to move towards, at least having one or two of these golf carts available."

The Lanning Golf Center is something special, indeed, for some very special people --- it's designed specifically for children, individuals with disabilities, and veterans. It made its debut at Turkey Creek in April and is already receiving rave reviews --- it's been named one of the Top 10 Best Adaptive Sports Facilities in America.

(For much more on the facility, please see http://www.loefflerslink.com/inside-8.html )

"We want to help foster inclusion into the community, and what better way than this wonderful golf course we have right here in Jefferson City," Henry said. "We'll continue to focus on this for years to come, to introduce the game of golf by providing golf clinics and other activities for individuals with disabilities.

"With these lessons, that will be specific to their disabilities, we believe it will help open that up."

The event is being co-hosted by the Independent Living Resource Center and MMHF and has several local sponsors, including KRCG.

"It will be a great way to spend a Saturday morning," Henry said. "It's a phenomenal cause that we hope our community will get behind and help us moving forward.

"Come out and join us for lots of family fun and laughter."

The lawn, after all, will still be there Saturday afternoon.

Come out swinging at Turkey Creek
for fun, laughter and a great cause

Loeffler's Link