ROCKINGHAM — For one Saturday later this fall, former golfers from Richmond Senior High School will get a chance to reminisce and try to shoot below par.
Keith Parsons, the current boys’ and girls’ golf coach at Richmond, announced this week that the program will be hosting its inaugural Raider Golf Alumni Outing.
Set for Saturday, Oct. 12, at Foxfire Golf Club, the home golf course of the Raider and Lady Raider golf teams, the reunion of former golfers and coaches will tee off with a shotgun start at 8:45 a.m.
Parsons shared the cost per golfer is $50, with any former coach allowed to join the event at no cost. Golfers will play his or her own ball during the 18-hole round.
To add a little more of a competitive edge to the event, prizes will be awarded for closest-to-the-pin on each par 3 hole and a long drive prize will be given for the front nine and the back nine.
Seeing the success of similar events held by other athletic programs at Richmond this past school year, Parsons wanted to include the golf teams and use the outing to connect past players with one another and with the current status of Richmond’s program.
Parsons will be one of the alumni attending. He was a three-year golfer for the Raiders before graduating in 1987.
“Over the past year or so, I have been impressed with what our football, boys’ and girls’ basketball and baseball teams have done to connect with their pasts,” Parsons explained. “I know from my time spent with Coach (Donald) Pettigrew and the boys’ basketball team how important former players are and how great it is when they are around our current team members.
“I don’t know that we have that camaraderie with golf, and certainly a huge part of that is simply the nature of the sport. And being without a golf course here in Richmond County further disconnects us from the community, including players from the past.
“I thought it would be a great idea to see if we could change that,” he continued. “I want our current players to see what the golf program at Richmond meant to our alumni during their time in school, which includes me. I loved my time on the golf team, and I love that I’m still in contact with so many of my former teammates.
“And I want to show the alumni our program still is going strong, with wonderful students who care about the game and enjoy competing for Richmond. If we can raise a bit of money at the same time, all the better.”
Once alumni have pre-registered via a Google form, entry fees can be mailed to:
Richmond Senior High
Attn: Keith Parsons
PO Box 1748
Rockingham, N.C. 28380
Checks can be made payable to Richmond Senior High. For those who want to pay in person, payment can be brought to bookkeeper Yashica Diggs in the main office.
“At some point Oct. 12, we will get a photo of everyone there – current players, past players and former coaches,” Parsons closed.
“I hope it leaves everyone feeling closer to what we have going on with our golf program, and I hope it inspires them to stay better connected with it and with each other.”
For more information, Parsons can be reached at 910-995-1670 or keithparsons@richmond.k12.nc.us.
