Shelter Island Country Club will devote Saturday, October 17 to a nine-hole tournament to benefit former South Ferry captain Alex Cannon who was seriously injured last fall. The rain date is Sunday, October 18. Non-players can join raffles or make donations.
The tournament features a two-person Scramble format. The cost is a $100 donation per golfer. This includes cart, refreshments, and five raffle tickets for prizes donated by generous Island businesses. Players can also purchase Mulligans (limit two) for $5 each.
Raffle prizes include gift certificates from:
- Shelter Island Ace Hardware
- Bliss’ Department Store
- J.W. Piccozzi Inc.
- Shelter Island Wine & Spirits
- Isola
- All Dogged Up
- Kilb’s Farm Stand
- Commander Cody’s
- Eagle Deli
- STARs Café
- Maria’s Kitchen
- 18 Bay
- Elli’s Country Store
- Vine Street Café
- Shelter Island Slice
- Gardiner’s Bay Country Club
- and many more to come …
Also on the roster of prizes are a one-year free membership to SICC and one year of free cart rentals or cart storage. Raffle tickets are $5 each or five for $20. Anyone can buy tickets in advance at the pro shop or on the day of the event. You need not be present to win.
Alex Cannon
Cannon does not have health insurance. He remains hospitalized in Queens, paralyzed from the shoulders down, after falling from a roof last November. Over the last 11 months, Cannon has undergone numerous surgeries, suffered several strokes and infections. He needs the help of a ventilator to breathe, and a full recovery is uncertain.
“While we have all been impacted in negative ways by the Covid-19 pandemic, we did not want Alex’s situation to be forgotten,” SICC President Gordon Cantley said. “This is what we do as Shelter islanders. We look out for each other. We never turn our backs on those who are in dire straits.”
All tournament proceeds go to Cannon’s Supplemental Trust Fund to pay for medical needs and equipment once he can return home to Shelter Island.
Sign up for the benefit
SICC’s historic nine-hole course will be closed to the general public until 2:30 PM on October 17. Golfers participating in the benefit tournament can form their own teams. They can play at a time convenient for them by reserving a tee time.
Sign up at the pro shop or call 631-749-0416 to make a tee time. All teams must have tee times to ensure the pace of play and rental cart availability. Tee times are available from 8 AM to 2 PM.
Team scores will be posted at the clubhouse as cards are returned. Organizers will announce team and raffle winners at 4:30 PM on the day of the tournament.
Make a donation
If you can’t play but would like to contribute to SICC’s effort, please send a donation. Make your check out to Shelter Island Municipal Golf Course, Inc. and put Cannon Benefit in the memo line. Mail to SICC, PO Box 853, Shelter Island Heights, NY 11965.
“Let’s make this tournament a blockbuster for Alex, and have some fun in the process,” Cantley said.
Other SICC news
Cart rental restrictions
As of October 1, no cart rentals after 4:30 PM to allow staff adequate daylight time to clean and lock up carts for the night.
Closing membership meeting, elections
The club encourages members to attend the season-closing membership meeting on Saturday, October 24, 3 PM at the clubhouse. Learn important news about the club’s finances, accomplishments, and plans for the future, and take part in electing board members.
If you are interested in running for the board or want to nominate someone, please email goathill1901@gmail.com. Absentee ballots will be available at the pro shop. You can request one by sending an email to goathill1901@gmail.com. Return ballots by Monday, October 19, or postmarked no later than October 16.
Editor’s note: A GoFundMe page has also been accepting donations for Alex and recently surpassed the $35K mark with a goal of $200K.
