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By Carey Reeder | Staff Writer

The Chilton County Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament is making its return on Sept. 15 at the Clanton Country Club.

The tournament runs from 1-5 p.m. and is a two-person scramble format. The cost is $200 per team, and the fee includes greens fees, cart rental and admission to the Chamber’s Fall Supper directly following the golf tournament.

There is also a $20 mulligan package available to players that includes two mulligans during their round and a closest to the pin and long drive contests. The winner of the tournament will receive a $600 cash prize. Second place will receive a $400 prize and third place will get a $200 prize. Tickets for the tournament will be made available soon. Those interested should contact the Chilton County Chamber of Commerce at 205-755-2400 or info@chiltonchamber.org.

“This is an event that will cover so many different aspects of the community,” Rachel Martin, executive director of the Chamber, said. “We are just excited about it. We do not know a lot about golf, but we know a lot about our community. This is touching so many different topics throughout it.”

The Chamber’s golf tournament, that former executive director Mike Robertson put on, was last held in the 2000s. Robertson passed in 2014, and a scholarship was setup in his honor to be awarded to one LeCroy Career Technical Center student. Since then, the funds have been depleted.

Martin went through some of Robertson’s old files and found the golf event. She began putting the wheels in motion to bring it back. Martin arranged the golf tournament to be in conjunction with their Fall Supper and have some of the proceeds go back to funding the Mike Robertson Scholarship.

Martin had never met Robertson before his passing, but said she has heard nothing but great things about the late director.

“He did all these great things for the Chamber and the county, and we are still learning from him even when he is not here,” Martin said. “I have never heard anything but wonderful words about him and how great of a person he was. This (tournament) can honor him and help people remember him … Getting these kids involved in the community would be something that would make him happy and carry on his legacy.”

Proceeds from the tournament will also go towards a scholarship for the Chamber’s student ambassador program they are starting up again. The program gives students from local high school who apply the opportunity to shadow the Chamber employees and get involved in the community.

“When Mike was the director, everyone is town loved him,” Brandy Clackley, assistant executive director, said. “He just brought energy and so much togetherness in the community.”

The Clanton Country Club came to the Chamber to offer their services for the tournament.

Martin and Clackley said the country club has helped the Chamber figure out what they need to include in the tournament such as adding the mulligan package and the contests. The Chamber is hopeful the tournament will yield the country club new members.

The Chamber’s Fall Supper event is open to others not participating in the golf tournament.

“We had the fall supper before as a casual setting in the yard at the old Chamber building,” Martin said. “We want those people to still feel welcome to come whether they are playing golf or not.”

The menu has not been announced yet but is expected to be a casual meal for attendees.