The Bartlett Touchdown Club’s first ever fundraising golf tournament was a much needed success both monetarily and in raising interest in the program.
The event, held Saturday at Quail Ridge Golf Club, sported 24 four-man teams and raised $3,500. Alan MacFerran, the Touchdown Club’s president, was excited about the tournament’s success, but believes that it’s only one step towards a larger goal.
“I had the opportunity to speak in front of these groups of golfers to explain our direction,” he said. “THAT is what I wanted out of the tournament… to build relationships with people, alumni, business owners, etc. that came out to support our program.”
The Bartlett City Schools superintendent, David Stephens, and Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell, along with a number of past Bartlett head football coaches and other currently employed staff all showed their support.
“I’ve gone around all over the city and I’ve said to have a great school system, you have to have four things,” Stephens said. “You have to have great teachers, you have to have great principals, you have to have a district office that supports you. But the most important thing is an engaged community.”
The fundraiser ended with a Bar-B-Q dinner at which MacFerran gave an informal “state of the program” speech. He thanked everyone who supported multiple times, and explained the Touchdown Club’s recently stated goal of purchasing a new scoreboard and video monitor for the football field.
He also spoke about a “sign the helmet” initiative that will help raise money for the program. A helmet will be carried around at games and left at local businesses for people to put money into and sign.
“Last year we would have had six names on this,” MacFerran said in reference to two helmets he was holding up. Already there were at least a dozen signatures on each helmet.
The football team’s head coach, Jeff McFerran, no relation to MacFerran, expressed his satisfaction with the tournament’s overall success.
“All in all, I think it’s been a great day for Bartlett football and trying to start something new for the booster club,” McFerran said. “I think this is a great way to kick off the football season.”
The season will begin 6:00 p.m. Aug. 8 with “Meet the Panther Night” where all of the fall sports teams will be announced, said Athletic Director, Head Cross-Country Coach, and DJ for the golf tournament Jim Steinbrecher.
Superintendent Stephens, before wrapping up his short address, expressed his interest in expanding the golf tournament next year to 36 teams, and added that he could not be more eager to see the future of Bartlett City Schools and the city itself.
“We are excited about the future of our schools,” Stephens said, “and I’m telling you, five, ten years from now, I think when people look up, Bartlett is going to be the place where people want to be.”
Written by Mac Trammell, special to the Express. Contact him at mactram94@gmail.com.
