Clody's One Eye tournament again supporting kids' vision

Friday, September 4, 2015
Showcasing the sense of humor that led him to found the world's only one-eyed golf tournament, Terry Clodfelter shows off one of the fruits of Clody's One Eye Golf Scramble. Last winter, Clodfelter and members of Greenastle Elks Lodge 1077 presented all of the Putnam County school nurses with juvenile vision screening kits. (Banner Graphic/JARED JERNAGAN)

The world's only one-eyed golf tournament returns again this month, depth perception not included.

The annual Clody's One Eye Golf Scramble is set for its 22nd year on Saturday, Sept. 12 at Old Hickory Golf Course.

The tournament has done a lot of good during its 21-year run, raising more than $160,000 for the Riley Children's Hospital ophthalmology department.

Sponsored again this year by Greencastle Elks Lodge 1077, the scramble is set for an 11 a.m. start at a cost of $100 per two-man team. Mulligans will be available for $5 per player. Registration begins at 10 a.m.

As always, the principal rule will be that all players are required to wear eye patches while hitting, thus making it a one-eyed golf tournament.

Removal of the eye patch for driving the cart is acceptable, if not encouraged.

Starting out as good-natured ribbing among friends, the annual tradition of golfing with an eye patch has grown into so much more.

Tournament namesake Terry Clodfelter, who has sight in just one eye, got tired of taking grief from his friends about his golf game.

Instead of simply complaining, he challenged all of them to play with just one eye, and the tradition was born.

The tradition soon grew into a tournament to make a difference for kids going through the same challenges Clodfelter had experienced.

In addition to supporting a number of programs in the Riley ophthalmology department and missions serving kids in places like Romania, Syria and Haiti, some of the donations came right back to Putnam County last winter.

That was when Clodfelter and the Elks Lodge presented vision screening kits to each of the Putnam County school nurses.

Originally a presentation from Riley, the kits were a way of giving back to the community that has supported the tournament, and therefore Riley Hospital, for more than two decades.

In playing with a different sort of handicap, golfers can rest assured they are supporting kids around the globe, around the state and around the county.

Of course, the winners will also take home prizes of their own.

The winning team will take home a prize of $300, followed by $200 for second and $100 for third.

Sponsors are needed for this year's tournament as well as players. All donations are 100-percent tax deductible.

Organizers are hoping for another big year after donating $7,500 to Riley in 2013.

A reception will follow the scramble at around 5 p.m. at the Greencastle Elks Lodge, 202 S. Indiana St.

To sign up a team or inquire about sponsorship, contact chairman Jim Skinner at 653-1449, Clodfelter at 653-9322, Jim Jackson at 720-8344, Brad Alspaugh at 653-7273 or Patty Evans at 376-4552.

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