A New PGA Event?
Jewett Residence Hall Hosts Mini Golf Tournament
Des Moines, Iowa (March 12, 1997)-- Disabled students from Ruby Van Meter along with a few Drake students started their golf season early this year. On Friday, March 8, a few Jewett Hall residents held the Jewett Open, a miniature golf course inside the dormitory.
Marty Palicki (AS2), director of the Jewett Open, said he wanted to offer Drake students an opportunity to get involved with the community. ³The purpose of the Jewett Open was to have fun and give students a chance to do some community service,² Palicki said.
Responses from Ruby Van Meter teachers showed that the miniature golf course was worthwhile. Palicki estimated that about 35 to 40 students played in the Jewett Open; half of those were from Ruby Van Meter.
This is the first year that the Jewett Open has been held at Drake. Palicki has an interesting story about how he came up with the idea. ³I was thinking about fun stuff to do. I remembered that my Grandmotherıs neighborhood used to have household miniature golf tournaments,² Palicki said. ³I thought it would be neat to do the same thing in Jewett.²
The miniature golf course consisted of nine holes, one in the basement, five on the first floor, one on the second floor and two on the third floor. Five of the holes were inside the rooms of Jewett residents. Palicki was pleased with the residentsı efforts. ³The best
part of the Jewett Open was the enthusiasm and creativity of the residents who helped out,² Palicki said.
Palicki is a member of Partners for Progress, an activities group composed of Drake students and teachers from Ruby Van Meter. Partners for Progress made the Jewett Open possible. The group participates in many projects, including taking disabled students to basketball games, bowling allies and dances. The members also help disabled students in their classes at Ruby Van Meter.
Unfortunately, it is unlikely that the Jewett Open will return to Drake next year. Palicki said he will probably not be available to direct the project. ³Unless someone else wants to adopt it as a project, the Jewett Open wonıt be held next year,² he said.
Golf clubs and golf balls used in the Jewett Open were donated by White Water University Water Park.
© 1997 CyberPress Communications, School of Journalism and Mass Communications, Drake University 50311.
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