Our Laguna: A grand reopening at Aliso Creek Golf Course

Caring for less fortunate neighbors is par for the course in Laguna.

The reopening of Aliso Creek Golf Course on Sunday raised funds to be donated to the Laguna Beach Relief and Resource Center for the survivors of the December Deluge. The proceeds included green fees, entries in a closest-to-the-pin contest, instruction sessions, Tee Box sponsorships and individual donations.

"The community really showed up," said J.D. Blashaw, golf operations manager.

Insurance broker John Campbell announced Wednesday that 186 golfers played the course the day it reopened and between $9,000 and $10,000 was raised, $2,100 of it from the Tee Box sponsors.

Campbell and his wife, Lu, collected $100 from 21 sponsors: Harry and Sue Bithell, Laguna Saloon, Marine Room, Dr. David Cler and Dr. Michael Cook, Bushard's Pharmacy, the Joe Jahraus Family, Sandpiper, Sorrento Grille, Pepper Tree Lane, Shirley Eramo, chiropractor Veronica Nice, George Heed and Marty Conlon, Ann and Charlie Quilter, Jim Lawler, Laguna Canyon Smog, Michael and Cheryl Kinsman, Homestead Escrow, The Termite Guy and Davis Law. Each of the sponsors will receive a plaque from the insurance agency to commemorate their contribution.

Lu Campbell also gets credit for the sign on the table where folks signed up for the closest-to the pin contest, which she joked was not quite up to standard of her work shown at the Festival of Arts.

The Campbells also played a round, along with Barbara and Dr. Dave Norton. Relief Center Executive Director Donna Valenti and Volunteer Coordinator Ann Quilter staffed the table, strategically placed so golfers had to pass it to get to the first tee.

Quilter and Valenti collected the entry fees for the contest. Participants plunked down $5 a hole to compete, with a maximum of four holes.

Among the competitors: Philo Smith, Greg Boyce, Jonathan Wolin, Todd Weaver of Emerald Bay, Steve Chapman, Win O'Neille, Jason Wenk and Tom Noyes.

Laguna Beach native and businessman Mark Christy came the closest to the No. 2 hole. Peggy Watchel was the winner on the fourth hole. Jim Didion won on the sixth hole and Jim Duval picked up the prize on the eighth hole.

Each winner was awarded $50 and a free round of golf.

Golf instructor Rob Reinhorn offered 50-minute sessions for $75, which also went to the center.

"I am so bad I had to get two sessions," Quilter said.

Christy said it would be worth it.