Newtown Square Fire Co. Holds Third Annual Golf Outing

EDGMONT–For many of the volunteer firefighters from the , Thursday provided a day off but the heat was still on as temperatures rose well into the 90s at the .

The outing is held to raise money for the fire company, which is entirely run by volunteers. Because the fire company is a 100 percent volunteer-run company, they receive 100 percent of their funding from the community.

“We’ve had to become creative in our fundraising efforts,” explained Public Information Officer of the Newtown Square Fire Co. L. James Biddle, a 25-year veteran of the company. “It’s ironic–the more professional we become, the more doubtful people are that we’re volunteers and they think that all of our funding comes from the township. It does not.”

Monetarily, the golf outing is the fire company’s most successful fundraiser, receiving funds from the golfers and sponsors. There are six payment packages for the tournament, the cheapest being for an individual player, which is called the Firefighter Package.

For one player to golf and join the company for lunch and dinner, the cost is $160. The most expensive package meant for sponsors is called the Barn Burner Package which includes four players, lunch and dinner, premium hole sponsor, four mulligans and front and back cover advertising placement in the company’s advertising book for $2,500. There is also a raffle and silent auction for the end of the day.

The money raised from the golf outing goes to the general fund of the company to maintain vehicles, equipment and to pay for various repairs. The main goal of the company this year is to fix the front pad of the fire house.

“The money goes to the general fund,” said Second Vice President Josh Potter. “More specifically we have a front pad that needs to be repaired. If all things go well–most of that funding will go into the front pad, which is just a concrete area in front of the fire house. Every year we have a capital expenditure that needs to be funded. This year it’s that.”

While the fire company conducts various fundraisers throughout the year, the golf outing is the most popular of the events.

“We do a mailing collection and that generates the most income, that’s the life of the company,” said Potter. “But we also do three of four fundraising events a year and this is the one that helps us the most.”

Potter, a 17-year veteran, can be credited with creating and operating the entire golf outing which entailed upwards of 50 sponsors and 50 players.

“Josh [Potter] is the forefront and grandfather of the fundraiser,” said Fire Chief Doug Simpson, a 22-year veteran. “He’s been the committee chair for the last three years and he’s done a wonderful job. Everyone has their niche in life and Josh’s niche is talking to people and making things happen," continued Simpson. "When this is over today, it will be only two months before he starts preparing for next year’s outing.”

At 1 p.m., the shotgun start sent a parade of carts off to their starting holes.

Certain golfers were rewarded for exceptional performances. Bob Lord for his "closest to the pin" ball placement and Shawn Lubic for his achieving the longest drive of the day.

The John Potter Group was awarded first place with their impressive finish of 64 strokes. The Rosedon Group was a close second with 66 strokes.

The Melmark Group earned honorable mention with their score of 67, while the BPG organization’s player group and an on-site selected foursome tied at 70.