The First-Ever Ninth Annual Louis J. Lorimier Memorial World-Famous Downtown Golf Tournament took place on Sunday afternoon in historic downtown Cape Girardeau.
The event is the annual fundraiser for the Red House Interpretive Center. It gathered about 60 golfers and about $20,000 have been raised through this event over the past nine years.
“Having this tournament every year promotes the Red House and also we try to raise a little bit of money,” organizer Charlie Herbst said.
The 9-hole urban course wandered through alleys and down to the riverfront. The golfers used BirdieBalls, which are plastic, napkin ring-shaped balls, and special strike pads were provided to minimize damage to golf clubs and playing surfaces. The organizers estimated that $2600 were raised this year.
KFVS12 meteorologist Brian Alworth has been participating in the event every year, for about six years.
“I’m not a golfer, I’m terrible at it, but it’s just fun and then you get all the catfish you can eat and maybe a beer down at Port Cape,” Alworth said.
Alworth is not the only weekend golfer who came mainly for the fun of it and for a good cause.
Danny Essner played in the downtown golf tournament for the second time this year. On Sunday, he was accompanied by his daughter, Kasie Essner, who played for the first time.
“I think it’s a great opportunity for some camaraderie and to promote downtown Cape development,” Danny Essner said. “At the same time, and it’s a beautiful day and I can’t think of any place I’d rather be than right here right now.”