Each fall for the past 35 years we have gathered as architects, clients, contractors, suppliers, and volunteers for a few hours of golf, laughs, food & drink at the Swinging Fore Scholarships tournament. Proceeds from the tournament fund the AIA Rochester/Architectural Foundation of Greater Rochester (AFGR) scholarship program and are a key component of our mission to support architectural education.
The Architectural Foundation of Greater Rochester awards scholarships to local students attending or entering architectural studies at NAAB accredited programs. Scholarships are provided in conjunction with AIA Rochester, AIA National, Bergmann, The Family of Myron Starks, AIA, and Women in Architecture.
Planning for the tournament started as usual, early in the year, but as work from home orders sent us away from our offices and construction sites sat idle, it became apparent that we were going to need to evaluate what was possible. Safety was the number one priority, and though serious consideration was given to cancelling the event, the decision was made to continue if the situation allowed. The committee worked hard and stayed agile. There were many times that the regulations evolved, and major features of the event needed to be replanned. Some of the changes were so well received that we are considering them again for next year.
We were blessed with perfect weather and excellent course conditions, thanks to the team at Ravenwood. Attendance was good at around 130 people and as they made their way around the course, they encountered a hilarious ‘mystery golfer’, the putting competition, fairway poker, raffles and a variety of food and drink stations.
We were able to meet our goal due to the generosity of our sponsors and donors, many of whom have supported the event from the beginning. We and the students are extremely grateful for their continued support. At a time when many lost jobs, were living on a reduced income, and may have been utilizing savings slated for something else to get by, the scholarships are even more important.
In 2020, we awarded $15,000 to five young women and three young men studying architecture at 7 different universities (Syracuse, Notre Dame, Alfred State, RIT, SUNY Buffalo, Kent State).
We look forward the 36th annual golf tournament on September 14th of this year and hope to see you all there. If you are interested in volunteering or getting involved with the committee, please get in touch by contacting Linda Hewitt at lbhewitt@aiaroc.org .
Stay safe and be well.