Marathon golf round to benefit junior program

June 21 marks one of the longest day of the year. In Whitefish that means the sun comes up at 5:30 a.m. and doesn’t set until nearly 10 p.m. — leaving plenty of daylight for a group of local duffers who plan to take on a 72-hole golf marathon this Thursday.

Nick Polumbus, Bill Kahle, Doug Reed and Ross Pickert will tee off at 7 a.m. at Whitefish Lake Golf Club in their effort to raise money for the WLGC Junior Golf program. Each of the golfers has taken pledges per hole, which will hopefully add up to a substantial chunk of funds for the youth program.

“The goal is to get pledges of 25 cents per hole, and between the four of us that could add up,” Polumbus said.

Kahle, along with Reed, is involved with Junior Golf program. He says the marathon day on the course could serve as an annual fundraiser for the program complimentary to the Bulldog Open held each year on Father’s Day.

“It’s for a great cause,” Kahle said. “I’m hoping someone steps up with a matching fund, too.”

Junior Golf is a summer program aimed at youths ages 6 to 14. It is free of charge thanks to the Gary Norby Junior Golf Foundation.

As for the daunting task of playing four rounds of golf back-to-back-to-back-to-back — it will likely involve plenty of ibuprofen.

A respectable round of 90 adds up to 360 swings of the club — or in Polumbus’ case, possibly a few trips to the bottle of Motrin he’ll have packed in his golf bag.

Polumbus is a seven handicap, but hopes to have a total score of 360 or less.

As for Kahle, “I’d be thrilled to shoot 360, but I’m aiming for 400,” he said.

Kahle says there is no good way to train for such an endeavor, but that he’s “been doing plenty of stretching.”

The group hopes to finish the first round in less than three hours to stay on pace. They’ll tee off from the black tees on the first round, the blue tees on the second, white tees on the third and finish from the red tees.

Those wishing to make pledges can contact the Golf Shop at 862-5960.