Memorial golf outing celebrates 20 years

Event is a Deau family legacy
By: 
Anna Olson
Correspondent

SURING — A family and community tradition now in its second generation completes its second decade this weekend.

The 20th annual Della Deau Memorial Golf Outing, formerly the Doze Inn Benefit Golf Outing, will take place Saturday at the Red Maple Golf Course, 501 Golf Course Road, Suring.

The event originated in 1998. The late Larry and Della Deau, original owners of the Doze Inn, hosted a golf outing that took place on the ice, and instead of golf carts, they used snowmobiles to go from hole to hole.

After the second golf outing, when there was leftover money, Larry and Della Deau decided to use the outing as an opportunity to raise money for a community member fighting cancer. The idea came about when one of their employees was diagnosed with cancer.

As a bartender and friend of the Deau family, Mary Lou Genal and her husband, Dick, were also part of the golf outing since day one.

“It was only natural we were going to help out,” Genal said.

A recipient of the benefit herself in 2007, Genal contributes her talents to the planning of the annual golf outing.

In 2000, the first benefit golf outing took place at the old Suring golf course clubhouse. After a fire destroyed the clubhouse, reconstruction provided an opportunity for the benefit to host more attendees. The benefit grew from 40 attendees to nearly 200 attendees every year.

The beneficiary each year is a community member from the Suring, Mountain, or Gillett area. In the 20 years since its conception, approximately $100,000 has been raised.

The community then had the opportunity to support the couple when they, too, were both diagnosed with cancer.

After their passing, there were questions whether the Doze Inn Benefit Golf Outing would still be held.

“Absolutely we are going to continue.” said Dawn Urbanek, one of Larry and Della’s four daughters. “People wanted us to continue it. I think people feel it is a great thing to do for the community.”

“I’m proud to do it because it’s carrying on what my mom and dad started,” daughter Chris Vollmar said.

In 2017, after Larry died, sisters Chris Vollmar, Michelle VanDriest, and Dawn Urbanek bought the family business of 50 years and turned it into a vacation rental under the name Doze Inn LLC.

When asked about the future of the golf outing, Vollmar said, “We will continue to do it until we find no more recipients that have cancer.”

The event is truly a community affair, with all prizes being donations from business and local individuals. There is also strong community support from those who attend the event.

“The golfers have golfed in sleet, snow, lots of rain, very cold, and sometimes very hot, but everyone still comes out and golfs,” Vollmar said.

“It’s astonishing how every year how many people come out and support the cause, support the event, support us doing it. It is amazing,” said Urbanek.

The golf outing includes a four-man scramble, a dinner, and prizes. The cost is $65 per person to golf and $20 per person for the meal. Registration begins at 9 a.m. with tee-off at 10 a.m. Call ahead to attend the dinner only or just come for the prizes. For more information or to register, call Chris Vollmar at 920-590-0165 or the Red Maple Country Club at 920-842-2553. Red Maple Country Club is located at 501 Golf Course Road, Suring.

What makes the annual Della Deau Memorial Golf Outing unique?

“Every year is special because it is for a different person. You get to meet so many new people every single year,” Vollmar said.

“And gain new friendships,” Urbanek said.

“It’s a fun day. Some people have never golfed before,” Vollmar said. “It’s not about how good you are, it’s about going out there and having fun.”