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STICKS TO CLUBS
Phantoms spark interest with special guests
By charles grove
poland
With blue skies and with mercury looming high in the thermometers, it was a picture-perfect day for the Youngstown Phantoms’ Sticks to Clubs Golf Outing at the Lake Club.
Thirty-six teams teed off along with several special guests including Phil Bourque, Sid Bream, Bernie Kosar, Jim Brown, Jim Tressel and local artist Ray Simon.
“This is the premier golf event in the Mahoning Valley,” Phantoms co-owner Bruce Zoldan said. “We had to turn away at least a dozen foursomes who wanted to play.
“We get people committed right after this outing putting down deposits for next year.”
Golfers also were able to sample some of the best food of the area on the course as well.
“On this outing you have Vernon’s cooking lamb chops on the 16th hole, you’ve got Roxbury, one of the premier pizza makers in the Valley, cooking on the fifth hole,” Zoldan said. “We give you the most for attending our outing.
“The drinks are plentiful, everyone has a great time and we always have a few special celebrities as well.”
The golf outing, which has been an annual event for about a decade now, has been at the Lake Club for the last five years. Troy Loney, Phantoms co-owner, said events like this are part of the organization’s goal to remain visible within the community, especially during the offseason.
“It’s important to be a part of the community and be out during summer time,” Loney said. “We try to do it all the time. Part of about being a minor pro sports team is being out there and supporting the community as much as we can. It’s important to be a part of the community.”
Once the rounds were over, a cocktail reception as well as live and silent auctions were followed by dinner. Attendees were able to bid on: autographed Browns helmets; Sidney Crosby autographed jerseys; Cleveland Cavaliers and Kentucky Derby packages; autographed baseballs by players like John Smoltz; and even a signed picture of Bream’s slide into home plate when the Atlanta Braves knocked the Pittsburgh Pirates out of the 1992 National League Championship Series.
Fans also were able to approach, take pictures with and chat with Cleveland Browns legends like Kosar and Brown.
“I really enjoy this outing,” Kosar said. “But one of the best things about this is when you look at this venue is you see how beautiful our city is. It’s something that I’m honored to be a part of and to help out.”
Zoldan said with events like this, he hopes the Mahoning Valley remembers to check the Phantoms’ schedule when the colder months start rolling around.
“Phantoms hockey in my mind is a gift to the Mahoning Valley,” Zoldan said. “In the last three years we have six or seven former Phantoms that are playing or have been drafted on NHL teams.
We’re sending people all over the U.S. an Canada into the hockey world from right here in Youngstown. I know our community is starting to grasp what we have here and we’re growing in attendance every year. I’m committed to making this a hockey town.”
To be a part of next year’s outing, call the Phantoms at 330-747-7825.