By Jason Wesseldyk
Sports Editor
Matt Townsley didn’t meet his goal of completing 200 holes of golf in one day.
He exceeded it.
Townsley completed 201 holes at Lake Doster Golf Club on Monday, June 20, as part of a fundraiser for the Friends of the Greater Plainwell Veterans Memorial.
Townsley’s effort—which started at 5:30 a.m. and ended at approximately 5:30 p.m.—resulted in $3,000 being raised. Some of that money will be used for necessary maintenance of the Veterans Memorial at Sherwood Park in Plainwell, with the balance being used to establish educational programs for the community regarding veterans’ issues.
John Roggow, president of the Plainwell VFW and a representative of the Friends of the Greater Plainwell Veterans Memorial, praised Townsley’s commitment to veterans’ causes.
“Matt has been tremendous to work with,” Roggow said. “He has always been ready to give more than we ask.”
This is the second time Townsley—a golf pro at Lake Doster Golf Club—has completed a marathon-golf fundraiser to benefit the Friends of the Greater Plainwell Veterans Memorial. The first time was in 2019, when inclement weather forced him to stop after 144 holes.
“In 2019, one of our members read about a pro golfer that did a marathon golf event every year to raise money for veteran issues,” Roggow said. “They were raising some serious money and we discussed finding someone local to do the golfing.
“Matt was willing to do it and the event was planned. We had planned on making it an every-two-year event, but COVID stopped some of our planning. So, it has been three years and we wanted to get it restarted.”
This year, the weather cooperated and Townsley was able to make it through 201 holes. That included 44 birdies and an overall score of six-under-par for the day.
“After doing the event in 2019 and knowing what the Plainwell Veterans Memorial stood for and knowing we have a large group of former and active-duty service members, I couldn’t turn down the opportunity to help out again,” Townsley said.
Townsley hopes to get the fundraiser back on track as a biannual event.
“It’s always important for me to help out our veterans as they hold a special place in my heart,” he said. “My dad served in the army and my uncles and other family have been in the armed forces as well.”
In addition to the marathon-golf event, Townsley has also participated in the Friends of the Greater Plainwell Veterans Memorial Tournament played at Lake Doster the weekend before Memorial Day.
“Throughout the years, Matt has been a huge supporter of veteran issues and our Memorial,” Roggow said. “While the Lake Doster Memorial Tournament is meant to recognize all of the prior members who have passed, Matt has always ensured that we also have a special recognition with the playing of Taps for those who had served and recognize those in attendance who have served.”