Page 30 - FOP September 2016

All Fore One
Lodge 7 Golf Outing provides a mutual appreciation society and accentuates one of the organization’s greatest bene ts
n BY MITCHELL KRUGEL
n PHOTOS BY JAMES PINTO
Searching for the words to best describe the impact of the Lodge 7 Golf Outing Aug. 29 at Cog Hill’s golf mecca in Lemont, members, sponsors, friends and family on hand offered the first thought that came to mind when asked to describe what made this such a memorable day.
“Worthwhile,” suggested Past-President John Dineen, the Lodge’s elder statesman.
“Family. Relationships. Love,” responded honored guest Kevin Williams, president of Kane County FOP Lodge 14. “Appreciation,” Cog Hill Owner Frank Jemsek asserted.
“Awesome,” elated Joe Gentile, Lodge 7 Trustee who helped organize the event.
“Best reason to be away from work,” added Jesse Gon- zalez, a member from Area South.
“Special,” related Kevin Farrell, Third Vice-President for Illinois FOP State Lodge.
“Fraternal,” agreed Dan Herbert, former police officer and member who is now one of the Lodge’s attorneys.
Ah yes, if you take the word from the 500-plus who at- tended, more than anything else, the annual Lodge 7 golf gala underscored the “Fraternal” in Fraternal Order of Po- lice. From the time participants started the nearly 10-hour extravaganza by lacing up new golf shoes courtesy of the Lodge and sponsors Baum Sigman Auerbach & Neuman, LTD and the Law Offices of Daniel Herbert to the post- golf feast fit for royalty, the event served as a welcome and
30 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ SEPTEMBER 2016
needed respite from the current grind of policing in the city, as well as a celebration of perhaps the Lodge’s great- est attribute – bringing its members together.
“It doesn’t get any better than this because we have people from all walks of life supporting the FOP,” Gentile gushed. “They respect us, they really do. They’re not hat- ers. They understand what we do day in and day out, and this is one day that we get to interact and mingle with our people. Look at how many people there are. There are 500 people here. That just doesn’t happen all the time.”
Even though the Lodge 7 Golf Outing has been perpet- uating the fraternalism for more than 50 years, the 2016 edition still forged a series of first-evers, not the least of which was the attendance of more than 500 and more than 100 foursomes spreading out over three of Cog Hill’s championship courses. This was the first time each player was gifted a brand new pair of Nike golf shoes, a retail val- ue of up to $100, depending on the sales outlet.
And this was the first time the event offered the “Million Dollar Challenge,” in which three players had the chance to make a hole-in-one on the 180-yard, par-3 ninth hole on the new Course No. 3 that stretched in front of the tent where the post-golf party was held, and share up to $1 million in cash. Gonzales was one of three to take a shot, and he hooked a drive that had distance though off tar- get. The other two challengers – Scott Welinski and Chris Taylor – hit their shots in the water between the tee and the green.