Mesquite Senior Games Hosts First Full Golf Tournament

By AMY DAVIS

The Progress

The Mesquite Senior Games (MSG) held its first ever two-day golf tournament in Mesquite on Nov. 9-10. Senior athletes from different states participated in a variety of competitive events including long drive, putting and closest to the pin; as well as an 18-hole and a 9-hole tournament.

The event culminated in a gala extravaganza hosted at the Oasis Grill. This featured live music from the band, Dry Heat, comedy from local performer TC Morgan, dinner, awards and raffle prizes.

Special performances were also provided by Paul Levan and his veterans from the Virgin Valley Honor Guard, who gave a very moving flag presentation prior to the 9-hole tournament. Local piper, Dennis Hangey also ushered guests into the gala with a performance on the bagpipes.

“This is the first time we have done the golf celebration tournament in the fall,” MSG board member Ruby Sviontek said. “It is really going well so far for our first time. We have had a really good turnout. Everyone just enjoys getting out.”

Morning practice began at 8 a.m. on Monday and it was quite chilly at that hour. Even so, Sviontek said, “Everyone came and made the best of it and it was really fun.”

Usually long drive and putting competitions are held in the spring. But they were cancelled this year due to COVID. This is the first time the tournament added a closet to the pin contest, and the tournament and awards dinner.

“It is exciting, and I can see this will be an annual event,” Sviontek said. “It will get better because we learn more about it.”

Marine McKinne, Realtor and snowbird from Minnesota, was one of the sponsors of the event. She is also a MSG board member.

“It costs $200 to be a sponsor,” McKinne said. “That money goes to Senior Games to promote their events.”

MSG hold events about once a month for nine months out of the year. These include tennis, bocce ball, pickleball, softball and bowling.
“All of the proceeds go into the events,” McKinne said. “It is buying t-shirts, tents, costs of hosting events, storage facilities, renting tables, it all costs money.”

Executive Director Amy Bradshaw said that people came from Nevada, Arizona, Utah and Minnesota to participate.
“One thing that was cool: the Huntsman Senior Games decided to come and play with us today,” Bradshaw said. “We were excited to have them here.”

Bradshaw was happy to see that the event brought a lot of new participants. Last year’s long drive competition brought 28 competitors. This year there were 44.
“It was a huge crowd for us,” Bradshaw said.

Anytime an event is hosted for the first time, there are unforeseen circumstances that present themselves.
“It hasn’t been without it’s glitches,” Bradshaw acknowledged of this inaugural fall tournament. “You know this is a brand-new event and we are kind of figuring it all out. But everyone is having a good time and we are pleased.”

Raffle prizes included nine holes for two at Coyote Willows, an 18 hole for two at the Oasis. The Casa Blanca Hotel donated a round of golf and a hotel room as did the Falcon Ridge Hotel and the Eureka Hotel.

Fran and Gary Halverson, new to Mesquite by way of Canada and Salt Lake, were the lucky winners of the 18-hole prize from the Oasis.
“We are very happy about this,” Fran said.

The Halversons were first time participants in the Senior Games. Fran participated in the closest to the pin competition. She got 9 feet 2 inches and received first place. Her husband, Gary, joked that he is always outdone by his wife.

“I got 13 feet,” Gary said. “She got first in her division- she got the gold and I got the silver. That’s how it works. She always out-does me.”

Fran said that she fully enjoyed the event as an opportunity to be active and get outdoors.
“I don’t know any of these people but it is so nice to have something to do,” she said. “It is so nice to get out. It has been so fun and we will be at more of their events. I encourage anyone to come out and give it a whirl!”