Out of the trap
SUMMIT TWP — The plight of veterans hits home with Buck Ridley.
Ridley, 63, of Bruin is a veteran himself, having served with the Navy in Vietnam. When he was reading an article about homeless veterans in a magazine four years ago, it struck a nerve.
“No veteran should be living in a cardboard box,” Ridley said. “Young veterans come back from Afghanistan and can’t find jobs ... It breaks my heart.”
So he decided to do something about it.
And Operation Sand Trap — a fourth-year golf tournament played by veterans and benefitting homeless vets — was born.
This year’s event is June 22 with an 8 a.m. shotgun start at Hiland Golf Course. The tournament has raised $12,400 for homeless vets since its inception.
“All of the money raised by that event goes to them,” Ridley said. “The golf course gives it back. Only veterans play in the outing because they don’t care if they get anything. They come to help each other.
“It’s tremendous bonding time. Guys talk about their time in the service and the money benefits people who really need it.”
The size of the tournament has increased each year. It debuted with 52 veterans in 2010. There were 84 who played the following year, 108 last year.
This year’s field figures to be between 120 and 130 golfers. There are already 23 four-man teams registered.
“I post fliers, but the participation has mainly come through word of mouth,” Ridley said. “One guy plays in it and tells his buddy, ‘you have to come do this.’”
No prize money is given out. Prizes come in the form of four golf passes from Oakview, Olde Stonewall, Foxburg Country Club, Aubrey’s Dubbs Dred, Hiland and Bavarian Hills in St. Marys. All of those facilities donated the passes.
The tournament has always been played at Hiland, where Ridley has golfed since the 1970’s.
“Buck has been a friend of the family for 40 years,” said Alan Zediker, whose family owns Hiland Golf Course. “He and my brother hung out back in high school.
“Buck is just all about the veterans. We’re honored and pleased to be able to help him out with this, and we’re very proud to host it.”
The Brady’s Bend American Legion Guard will provide a 21-gun salute and play Taps prior to the tourney’s shotgun start. Connie LeGrand of Slippery Rock will sing the national anthem.
Riders of the American Legion, Butler post, will bring 20 to 30 motorcycles out for an American flag service.
Classic Ink donated harts and shirts for the event and Bridgestone provides the golf balls used in the tournament.
“This is about people coming together for a good cause,” Ridley said. “My goal is to eventually get this tournament to full capacity at 144 golfers.
“We’re not very far away from that now.”
