2008 Italian Charity Golf Classic
Madison's Italian Workmen's Club Sponsor Golf Event
By - Tony Bruno, Golf Committee Chairman
On Sunday, September 28, 2008, 55 intrepid golfers took to the links at Sun Prairie Golf Course to compete in the 2008 Italian Charity Golf Classic. The sun, which had been promised to us by the weather gurus, was nowhere to be seen when the first foursome stepped up to the tee box. It did, however, manage to show up about mid-way through the day. Luckily, the temperature held in the 70s.
The 9th hole was, again, played as fast as possible in order to get to the outdoor grill, manned by Vito, Joe (Chick), Pete and Chuck Cerniglia. The delectable aroma of grilling Italian sausage, green peppers and onions wafted down the 9th fairway, causing stomachs to growl and taste buds to quiver. 
After finishing the last nine holes of the outing, golfers were able to spend some time in the clubhouse with some refreshments, and caught up with old friends and acquaintances before dinner. Twenty other relatives and friends joined the golfers and volunteer workers for a delicious steak dinner, also cooked on the outside grill by the Cerniglias. And, keeping a long tradition, Joe, Buffo, Cerniglia brought the home made bread.
Just before dinner, prizes for the lowest scores and for the the flag events were awarded. After dinner, an awesome number of raffle items were won, thanks to the generous people and businesses that donated goods and services. Every person who bought a raffle ticket won at least one prize, and the raffle generated a nice sum of money for our contribution to the Capital City Candlelighters. The Candlelighters is an organization that provides physical, emotional and funding support to families of children suffering from cancer. View the Capital Candlelighters' website (exit WisItalia) for more information.
Italian-American Women's Club (IAWC) President, Mary Troia and some of her relatives got all the golfers registered and ready to go, and also helped Italian Workmen's Club (IWC) President Frank Alfano with the raffle. George, “GG” Schiro made sure each foursome got to the 1st tee on time, and Ross DePaola was our official photographer and as always, our all around “go-to guy.” Mike Cerniglia and Johnny Joe Aiello got all the signs out to the proper places on the course – and got them back again! A special thanks goes out to our hole sponsors: Group Health Cooperative, PDQ Stores, Meriter Hospital and Marsh Shapiro’s Nitty Gritty Restaurant, and also to the businesses and individuals who donated items for the raffle.
This event is always a lot of fun and runs so smoothly because of all the hard working people who contact sponsors, collect raffle items, mail out information, man the stations required to get the golfers out onto, and off of, the course – and cook all the scrumptious food!
A special “Thank You” also goes to the owners and staff of the Sun Prairie Course for helping to make our day enjoyable.
More Photos of the Event
Photos taken by Ross DePaola (Picassa, exit WisItalia)
Updated March 6, 2010
