Henry Daily Herald

Photo by Johnny Jackson A team of sponsors meets at one of the 18 holes of golf at The Cotton Fields Golf Course in McDonough, during a charity event supporting the Henry County Rotary Club.

McDONOUGH — Laughter broke the usual morning silence, accompanied by the hum of golf carts traversing paths along the finely manicured greens at The Cotton Fields Golf Course.

“We try to make the event clean competition, but we have affordable prices, and we have fun,” said Jeff Cooper, a past president of the Rotary Club of Henry County and the chief operating officer at Piedmont Henry Hospital.

Cooper was one among the more than 100 community members participating in the 2012 Henry County Rotary Golf Classic in McDonough. He said the goal of this year’s charity golf tournament was to raise about $20,000. Last year, the organization raised roughly $14,000.

“We really worked hard this year,” said Annette Rogers, current president of the Rotary Club of Henry County.

Rogers confirmed the organization grossed $22,000, which is a net $17,000 this year.

“We got a lot more support and sponsors this year, than last,” she said.

The event’s major sponsors included Presenting Sponsors Piedmont Henry Hospital and the Henry Daily Herald. Its Putting Green Sponsor was Childern’s Healthcare of Atlanta, while Castrol held the event’s Mulligan Table Sponsorship.

Monies raised from the event go towards several local and international projects in which the Rotary Club of Henry County is involved.

“Last year, we used some of the funds to build a playground at Haven House [a domestic violence safe haven for women and children],” said Susan Heredia, Rotary’s golf classic chairman.

Heredia said funds raised this year will go toward continuing a new scholarship program, started this past year. The program awarded a $200 scholarship to each of Henry County’s nine public school valedictorians for 2012.

The rotary club expects to also continue its efforts overseas, helping provide clean, drinkable water to underdeveloped nations.

Heredia said the local organization plans to throw its support behind area “prevent child abuse” campaigns. It also is re-affirming its support of childhood literacy programs like the Ferst Foundation of Henry County.

The Rotary Club of Henry County will have a presence this fall in the Millard Fuller Legacy Build, hosted by the non-profit Henry County Fuller Center for Housing, Inc. The Legacy Build is planned for the week of Sept. 9-14, and will feature five major renovation projects in McDonough, and many others worldwide.

Heredia said Monday’s golf tournament will help move ever-closer to providing more support to the aforementioned charities.

Consolidated Copiers of Conyers won this year’s charity golf tournament after a winning a tie-break, she said.

The golf classic chairman said the team had tied with the second-place team, whose members represented BB&T branches throughout Henry County. Both teams shot a 51, at 20 under par.

Heredia said members of the first place team won $100 each, and a set of golf balls, while the second place finishers received $50 each and a set of golf balls.

Scott Chandler with MOI Golf of McDonough, earned a third-place honorable mention, shooting 53, at 18 under par.

“We’re having a good time ... we sure can’t play golf,” said Brian Ragsdale, a member of the Brian Services Team.

Ragsdale expressed the sentiment after his team of four — himself, Bob Chutro, Ricky Chutro, and Michael Justus — went nine holes on the course with little success.

Henry County Rotarians, with the charity golf tournament behind them, are looking forward to their next major fund-raising efforts.

Rogers pointed to Henry County Rotary’s Jingle Job 5K Run and 1-Mile Walk charity event. It is scheduled for Dec. 1, beginning on the McDonough Square.

The Rotary Club of Henry County meets at P.J.’s Cafe in downtown McDonough, at noon each Monday, excluding school and bank holidays.

To learn more, visit www.henrycountyrotary.org.

Pete Scott contributed to this article.