Acing a tribute

Bonnie Sanders once dreamed of hitting a hole-in-one on the 13th hole at Village Greens.

Situated on the far edge of the course, the 354-yard par 4 would seem tough to ace, even from the front tees. Teeing off from a perch overlooking the fairway, the hole is lined with sand on the left. On the right is a lake waiting to catch any mishit drivers.

In the distance, almost like a postage stamp, is a flag that seems reachable, if the wind was right and your swing aligned.

It’s a dream many people have had standing on that tee box, after a round or in their sleep. It’s a dream, however far reaching, equally spectacular for any golfer.

Bonnie Sanders built a love and passion for golf in the women’s league at Village Greens. Her bubbly personality affected everyone on and off the course.

In January, she passed away from cancer a day before her 55th birthday.

Last Thursday, nearly 90 golfers: friends, relatives and acquaintances, came out to celebrate her dream.

“It means the world,” her husband Bob Sanders said after an emotional tournament. “It’s been a hard road getting to this point.”

Scores of people helped Bob put the tournament together, events he says he’s more used to marshaling than running.

It started in spectacular fashion, with three world-champion skydivers parachuting in on the first hole. They carried a bit of Bonnie with them to take her on her first jump.

“It was fun for everybody,” said BJ Worth, one of the skydivers and a friend of the Sanders’. Bob’s brother Gary was one of the other skydivers.

“We wanted to contribute any way we possibly could.”

Local businesses donated gifts, friends provided food and a check for $1,155 was donated from raffle prizes to Frontier Home Health and Hospice, which took care of Bonnie at the end.

Then on the back of the course – on hole 13 – there was a contest to see who could match Bonnie’s drive, marked by a butterfly in the fairway.

“If you knew Bonnie, you’d know why they came out,” longtime golf partner Carol Webb said. “Bonnie was a very special person. She loved to laugh, she made everybody happy. She’s just a very special person.”

There weren’t any holes-in-one that day on hole 13. That part of the story is still just a dream.

But the community outpouring and support for one of their own was nothing short of a success. There were talks from some about trying to do it again next year, though nothing had been made solid.

At least for one day, and for plenty of memories in the future, that dream was alive with dozens that she loved.

“It’s meant the world,” Bob Sanders said. “It’s been people who wanted to support me and loved her. They’ve gotten me through all of this stuff.”