Star Bank's Celtic Golf Outing

Or How to Combine Golf and Medieval Mayhem.

One hundred and eight golfers were greeted by druids, peasants, and a bagpiper upon their arrival. After a midday meal, the golfers ascended upon their trusty carts and set out across the countryside to experience the day's events.

As the golfers advanced to each hole, they were greeted by new sights and challenges, such as crossing the River Thames, and outrunning the Viking Horde. Upon conquering all of the challenges, the golfers returned to the clubhouse to enjoy a feast and witness the awards ceremony, after which they told stories of their mighty adventures over tankards of ale.

Getting the Idea

The Celtic Golf Outing resulted from a culmination of ideas from the three committee members assigned to stage the event: Bruce Ross, Randy Bateman, and David Girmann. The committee noted that the outing was scheduled for September 23rd, a date which marks the autumnal equinox. Bateman then recalled that the autumnal equinox was celebrated by the Celtic druids as the beginning of the harvest season. It was rationalized that since the Celtic people had inhabited Scotland, and because Scotland is renowned for being the birthplace of golf, the two would be a natural fit.

Designing the Holes

Some of the more interesting holes contained the following: the Loch Ness Monster rising from a water-hazard, dueling knights, a catapult, a life-sized recreation of part of Stonehenge, a cart where each golfer could exchange their gold coins for an authentic Scottish beverage, an inn where golfers could exchange silver coins for a bowl of cabbage soup, a 40 foot high dragon, and a Viking raider attacking the north shore of Scotland.

David Girmann played the part of the raider. "Yes, I was the only raider, but we had a scene of carnage set up with an overturned golf cart and a couple of dead, disemboweled golfers laying about. I wore a wig and a Viking helmet and got to chase them in my golf cart."

A Challenging Golf Course

"This was Star Banks 2nd Annual Golf Outing to show appreciation for major clients and VIPs. The bank fully sponsored the event. The green fees, cart rentals and meals were all covered, as well as the cost of the prizes. In addition to the other prizes we also gave each guest a tam-o-shanter with the bank logo embroidered on it. We gave out a lot of gold coins, too, that we had purchased at a local costume store. Next year we would like to have them imprinted with the event logo."

Many of the costumes worn at the the event were purchased through Chivalry Sports(tm): Great Kilts, Wedding Shirts, Tunics, Renaissance Shirts, Medieval Gowns, Hoods and Mantles, Irish Dresses, Chemises, Necklaces, Lace Snoods, and Muffin Caps. The committee chairman said, "We found that it was more economical to purchase the items, rather than rent them, since we intend to repeat the Celtic golf theme in the future."

Advice from the Celtic Golf Outing Committee

1. Start planning early. "We only had a month or two to get ready. If we had had more time we could have put it on more economically."
2. Assemble a team of very creative people to develop your theme, the wackier the better. "We had the three most creative people in the company working on this project and free rein to do whatever we wanted."
3. "Some of the funniest scenes were the least expensive to stage, like the Mud Man. He was a character stationed under a bridge between two holes. He was covered with mud and would approach each foursome and ask to join them. If they refused he would grovel, beg, and offer to kiss their shoes."
4. "Watch out for those catering costs. The club may require that you hire their caterer for the feast then charge high prices for odd things like turkey legs. Be creative with your feast menu."
5. "Design an event logo and use it on your score cards, golf balls, advertising, banners, and caps to add to the festivities. They will become souvenirs."
6. "Encourage the players to take lots of photos. Have a professional photographer stationed at one of the holes to take pictures of the teams with a colorfully costumed staff person."
7. "You can rent many of the props at local costume and theatrical rental stores. If you live near Cincinnati, go to Capples."
8. "We had a ratio of 1 staffer to every 6 players and it worked well. Everyone had plenty of fun."

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This page was last updated Tuesday, 27-May-2003 13:20:52 EDT