LIBERTY,INDIANA — The 49th annual Camden Day golf outing was held on Thursday, July 21, at the Liberty Country club in Liberty, Indiana. Approximately 100 golfers participated in this traditional event.
Sixteen total teams participated for prizes in the event — 12 male teams of six men in each, and four female teams with four ladies in each. Each participant earned a free hat to commemorate Camden Day, but the top prizes had to be earned through a scramble event. (A scramble format in golf is where the team benefits from the best ball placement after all the members have made their strokes at each hole, and the team score is registered in that specification.) The team which won the men’s side was comprised of Tim Moore, Jeff Brown, Terry Osbourne, Robert Allison, Chris Arvai, and Jack Howell. For the women’s side, the winning team was comprised of Cathy Troth, Carrie Swanson, Keisha McDavid, and Brandi Michael.
Camden Day started many years ago when local businessmen would close down their businesses on one Thursday in July of the year, and many went to Liberty to play golf. So, according to organizers, they started Camden Day as an official annual event. The format has been the same ever since.
Mike Akers is a retired golf coach who was part of the committee for this year’s event.
It has always been held in Liberty — Camden isn’t very far away and this is where the Camden-Gratis folks come and get along,” Akers said. “There are a lot of members who are part of the club and the tradition has thankfully continued.”
Gary Rader has participated in Camden Day several years. “I’ve been doing this for some 20 years now and it’s a family tradition,” said Rader. “Everyone in town looks forward to this day. For those who have moved away for a long time, it gives them an excuse to come back and meet old friends. My son Garrett is 11, he just started learning golf. He’s a member of the little junior league they have at Liberty, so he’s starting to gain a good interest in it, and I’m having fun watching him grow and get better.”
“It’s a great tribute to the communities to carry on for so many years,” said Akers. “Next year will be the fiftieth year so it will definitely be something special,” Akers said. “Lots of donors have contributed for the event. The Liberty Club has been very helpful — so much goes on behind the scenes and that’s a key element to the success here.”
“This is my second year in charge of the committee,” Akers said. “We do our best to have the teams divided evenly, we hope. The ladies play first early in the morning, and the men follow after a shotgun start. Folks get together for fun but there are some prizes to earn. We have a 50/50 drawing that helps keep our heads above water financially.”