'Moonlight' golf tournament to raise funds for Boys & Girls Clubs
By Ken Powers Contributing Writer

Marlborough/Hudson - For the fifth straight year members and friends of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metrowest will transform a local golf course, turning it into a futuristic scene, all in the name of raising money to help local kids.

The Moonlight Madness Golf Tournament will be held Thursday Oct. 18 at Stonybrook Golf Course in Southborough, with the proceeds going to benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metrowest.

Unlike just about every other charity golf tournament ever held, the Moonlight Madness Tournament - as hinted at in its name - is held at night. Tee off time for the tournament is scheduled for 7 p.m.

"It's a really fun event, a 'funraiser,' we call it," said Dennis Zilembo, club director of the Hudson Branch of the Boys & Girls Club of Metrowest. "Everything's lit up with glow sticks and glow-in-the-dark devices. The balls all glow in the dark. It's amazing to see. It's like there's a meteor shower on the course with all the balls flying through the air."

Zilembo said the nine-hole tournament is a scramble format. He said he closes out entries at 18 foursomes - one per hole - and has room remaining for about five foursomes. Cost of the tournament is $65 per golfer, which includes glow-in-the-dark equipment, including balls and bag tags.

Preceding the tournament, which takes about two hours to complete, will be a cookout, compliments of the Lazy Dog Restaurant in Marlborough. After the tournament golfers will gather at the Lazy Dog for an awards presentation.

Zilembo said the tournament raises about $5,000 each year.

"It's a fund-raiser, but it's more of an event that allows the alumni of the club to come back and catch up with old friends they haven't seen in years," Zilembo said. "It's more of a get-together for guys that love to play golf but wouldn't be able to attend if we held the tournament during the day because of work commitments."

Zilembo said the money will be used for costs that arise during the year that are not budgeted for.

"It's for stuff that we wouldn't be able to purchase and provide if it weren't for fundraisers like this," Zilembo said. "If one of the clubhouses needs a pool table, we can go out and get one. If a team we sponsor needs uniforms, we can buy them. Things like that."

Zilembo said a portion of the money will help supplement the summer camp scholarship fund as well.

"During the year our dues for kids are just $25 a month, which is the best deal in town," Zilembo said, "but during the summer, camp is $165 a week, and some kids just can't come up with that kind of money. So, instead of turning them away, we use a portion of our fundraisers to supplement what we call the summer camp scholarship fund, so kids who want to can attend camp."