By Matt Nelson, Special Writer
HIGHTSTOWN — Despite heavy rainfall late Monday morning, firefighters gathered to played golf on the green.
Hightstown Engine Company No. 1 held its 16th annual Golf Classic at the Peddie Golf Club, a golf course of the Peddie School.
Approximately 75 golfers — from East Windsor, Cranbury, Hamilton and other parts of Central Jersey — came out to participate in the Golf Classic to play the 18-hole, par-72 golf course.
Fire Department member and former chief John Archer, of Hightstown, who served as Golf Committee chairman, expressed his happiness that, despite the rain delays, the fund-raising event went on as scheduled.
Mr. Archer said, “I wasn’t surprised that we were going to be delayed. These torrential downpours certainly made the course interesting. One of the female golfers was on hole 18 when the rain was heavy, and she was still playing golf.”
Members of the fire company served hamburgers, cheeseburgers, hot dogs, fried chicken and beverages to the golfers before and during the event.
The event began with 11 a.m. registration, followed by a shotgun start at 12:15 p.m.
The Golf Classic, which originally was supposed to be a shamble, was changed to a scramble just before the start of the event due to the threat of more heavy rainfall in the afternoon.
In this case, each golfer would hit from the best shot of all four golfers.
Rick Emens, of Hightstown, was one of the firefighters who volunteered to help make the event a success.
”Normally, we have decent weather,” Mr. Emens said. “They seem to have a lot of fun, and I think it’s a real good event for everybody. The fire company does well. The golfers seem to be happy, and they get to go to a nice banquet afterwards, and everybody seems to be happy so it’s win-win as one of the few events you get involved in.”
Donald Reed, who is a retired Hightstown firefighter, has been helping out with this event for many years.
”I’ve always enjoyed this event,” Mr. Reed said. “It’s a lot of fun. If you got the people to help out, it’s a lot of fun.”
The Golf Classic was followed by a dinner that took place at the fire station. Members of the fire company helped served beverages, roast beef, turkey, salad and baked ziti.
Cash awards were given out to the top three foursomes along with longest drive, straightest drive and closest to the pin.
In the 16 years Mr. Archer has been in charge of the Golf Classic, he said it’s always about the companies that sponsor all the holes on the course.
”Every year, we try to get all of our sponsors out so that we have enough people to do it, and on the day of the event, we just sit back and have fun, and that’s what it’s all about,” Mr. Archer said.
There was also a 50-50 drawing along with door prizes that included golf clubs, hair care products, towels, golf balls and gloves. Additionally, the dinner featured a raffle for a cigar humidor.
Fire company officials said the following businesses and organizations supported the Golf Classic: AAMCO Transmissions, American Legion Post 148, Avis Rentals, Bicycle Rack, CCL Label, City Auto Center, Cranbury Design Center, Daphnes Diner, Dom’s Service Center, TGI Friday’s, Gold’s Gym, Greentree Consulting, H&H Appliance Center, Hights Electric Motor Service, Hightstown Diner, Hightstown VFW Post 5700, L&J Electronics, Lightning Delivery Service, Michael’s Transportation, Mounts Garage, North American Transportation Consultants, Riggins Convenience Mart, Sabrina’s Pizza, Stitches-n-ink, The Country Florist, Triangle Copy, Windsor Car Wash, Allen & Stults Insurance, Augenbaugh Realty, Barlow Zimmer Funeral Home, Cart Signs, Charles Smith Plumbing and Heating, Cranbury Volunteer Fire Company, Diversified Rack and Shelving, Empire Antiques, Global Mortgage Network, Greentree Consulting, Groves Supply, Haldeman Ford, Hightstown Development Association, Hightstown P.B.A Local 283, Masterpiece Studios, Midstate Communications, My Home Furniture, Nottingham Insurance, Roberts Engineering Group, Santino’s Pizza and Restaurant, Sieck Wright Floral Products, Tavern by the Lake, Treats Garage, Tu Amigo Taxi, Washington Volunteer Fireman and Windsor Nissan.

