The 2008 Minnesota Vikings Golf Tournament presented by Miller Lite and Qwest was held on Thursday, June 12 at Rush Creek Golf Club in Maple Grove to benefit the Viking Children’s Fund. The sold-out event featured plenty of current Vikings players and coaches as well as Vikings staff and alumni.
Several current Vikings players - including first-year Vikings Jared Allen and Thomas Tapeh - as well as beloved alumni - such as Randall McDaniel and Doug Sutherland – participated in the event, which was played under warm, partly sunny skies and on a luscious and beautiful Rush Creek golf course.
The tournament is an annual event and provides a venue for the Vikings to bring their entire organization and family together.
“This event is a great opportunity for the entire Vikings family, including current and former players, staff, partners and sponsors, to get together and raise some money for the Viking Children’s Fund,” VCF Director Pat Leopold said. “We had a beautiful day out here and I’m thrilled to have so many participate in the name of a great cause.”
Thursday marked the 20th time the team has held the event. Since 1978, the Viking Children’s Fund has distributed nearly $8 million, with $4.5 million supporting research at the University of Minnesota Department of Pediatrics.
Ray Edwards, Tarvaris Jackson, Pat Williams and Kevin Williams were just a few other current players who participated in the event. Players and alumni always enjoy opportunities to gather, and the VCF golf tournament, along with other community events throughout the year, presents a unique opportunity for them to visit and help extend the organization’s effort to reach out to the community.
“I’m ready to go out there and meet some great folks,” Vikings alumnus John Randle said prior to his round. “This is a great event for golfers and non-golfers alike.”
The tournament schedule consisted of two sessions of golf and an awards ceremony after, including comments from Coach Childress and other Vikings personnel. Throughout the day, food was provided on the deck outside of the clubhouse as well as at various holes throughout the course.
The morning golf session began with a shotgun start at 8:00 a.m. and featured mostly Vikings staff, sponsors and alumni. The afternoon session began around 1:30 p.m. and featured the Vikings coaching staff, players, alumni and sponsors.
Participants were able to utilize the course’s driving range prior to their round.
KFAN was broadcasting live from the event as Vikings Head Coach Brad Childress joined Chad Hartman’s show from the patio.
Rush Creek Golf Club was also the host location of the Matt Birk HIKE Foundation Celebrity Golf Classic held earlier in the week.