The inaugural Jerry Burrows Memorial Golf Tournament was a touching and heartfelt event that brought together friends, family, and golf enthusiasts to honor the memory of a beloved individual. Held on Saturday, June 22, at the picturesque Crooked Creek Golf Course, the tournament served as a reminder of Jerry Burrows’ passion for golf and his enduring spirit.
“Dad always had a heart for helping others. So after we lost him, we all wanted to do something in his name in which he would be proud. Since most of his life was in service to other families - in church, school, and community organizations- we felt it was best to offer any help we could to do something in Cordell. Mom, my siblings, and I talked for months about the best path to take. He gave half his 81-year life to Cordell Schools and was an educator at heart. He gave almost that amount of years to the building and development of Crooked Creek. Therefore, we decided we would do both! Hence, the Jerry Burrows Memorial Scholarship Fund and partnership with Crooked Creek came to life. A 501(c)3 was developed, and we went to work planning the first ever Jerry Burrows Memorial Golf Tournament,” stated Lynne Walker, daughter of Jerry and Katy Burrows.
The money raised will go toward the Memorial Scholarship and toward helping maintain the beautiful greens so many could enjoy this past weekend. The amount of time, work, and dedication poured into Crooked Creek is beyond words.
“Equipment such as mowers and carts are costly, and the upkeep of greens, the Club House, and water/ plumbing sources can be costly. Many golf courses in surrounding towns have full-time workers to manage these duties. Crooked Creek is run off of the generosity of volunteers in order to save funds. People like Gary Madison, C.H. Hughes, Mike Stowers, and Vernon Mayfield have given and continue to give so much to that course. Valerie Farris is a vital part of the growth and maintenance of this course as well. People would be shocked at how much volunteer time these individuals give so that all can take advantage of this course.
So, if we could build its cash reserves, upkeep would be so much easier. Hopefully, the course membership will grow, keeping this Western Oklahoma jewel alive for not only the residents of Cordell but all who would come and enjoy it. In addition, we all know that when patrons come to town to play golf, see a movie, utilize the beautiful park, go for a swim, visit a doctor, have tests at the hospital, etc., other businesses reap the benefits as well. These patrons buy groceries, get gas, go out and eat, etc. This helps everyone. Having this course in Cordell is an asset that many small towns are not afforded. Many small towns are “dying off” and do not have amenities to offer current and possibly new residents. This is why we all need to do what we can to keep Cordell alive and strong! It is a great town with wonderful people, so we wanted to follow Dad’s lead and do our part,” expressed Walker.
This past weekend’s tournament and the planning that went into providing such an event brought forth stories and memories that several recalled with Jerry and shared with his beloved family and friends. Stories of Jerry’s dedication to the course and steady devotion, as well as how Jerry helped a young Cordell golfer expand her knowledge of the game while providing a job along the way. Golfers and attendees could see firsthand the commitment, time, and hard work volunteers put into keeping the course alive and at its best.
“It is a wonder to see a 40-year labor of love continue to grow for a town he loved so much! We are beyond grateful for the support. So many of these men, like Gary Madison, Mike Stowers, and CH Hughes, volunteer their time, and the golf course wouldn’t be what it is without their constant attention and support. They are the backbone of that place!” said Walker.
Players from far and wide joined the tournament to pay tribute to Jerry, a man known for his love of the game and unwavering dedication to the local golf community. As the golfers navigated the challenging course, a sense of closeness and remembrance permeated the air, creating an exceptional atmosphere for all in attendance.
“The tournament was a huge success! We had such a great turnout, and it truly was a beautiful sight to see all the carts lined up first thing,” expressed Katy Burrows, Jerry Burrows’ wife.
Walker shared that Jerry would have loved seeing old friends, former students, educators, and his family come together to enjoy a beautiful day of golf; he would say, “It’s been a good day.”
The tournament had three flights, a group of golfers or teams competing against each other instead of the entire field, and paid out 1st through 3rd place. The following winners were: A Flight - 1st place, Heston Brown and McCrae Brunker; 2nd place, Randy Wenninger and Brian Wenninger; 3rd place, Hunter Burrows and Ryder Burrows. B Flight - 1st place, Aubrey Christian and Tyler Tignor; 2nd place, Gary Lundy and Jarod Lundy; 3rd place, Geary Don Burrows and Stan Perry. C Flight - 1st place, Jim Burrows and Chris Garvin; 2nd place, Greg Britton and Ty Davis; 3rd place, Kenny Babek and Jordan Williams.
Throughout the tournament, anecdotes and fond memories of Jerry were shared, serving as a testament to the impact he had on those around him. The event was a celebration of his life and the lasting legacy he left behind, exemplifying the profound influence one person can have on others.
The tournament offered several opportunities to win, from drives to auction winners. The longest-drive winner was Heston Brown, and Aubrey Christian was the closest to the hole winner. Reid Russell was the gun raffle winner. Silent Auction winners were: Mike’s Meats basket, Geary Don Burrows; The Jelly Lady (Debbie Wedel) basket, Margaret Madison; Ironwood Design etched tournament glasses basket, Jarod Lundy; Golf bag basket, Amy Brown.
As the sun set on the day’s proceedings and the final putts were sunk, there was a noticeable sense of unity and reverence among the participants. The Jerry Burrows Memorial Golf Tournament stood as a testament to the power of memory and the unifying force of sport, ensuring that Jerry’s spirit would live on through the cherished moments and lasting connections forged on the fairways this past weekend.
The family would like to thank the sponsors and donors who graciously contributed to the golf tournament’s success. Those donors and sponsors are: Title Sponsor, Hard Times Beef Jerky - JW Tennery, owner; Exterior Solutions Group; Vanderveer Plumbing; Jarod Lundy, Belmar Golf Club; The Families of Garland and Sue Hinkle; New Cordell Tag Agency, Valarie Fariss; Brooke Higgins Appraisal; Great Plains National Bank, Cordell and Sayre; High Plains Bank, Cordell; Circle10 Farms, Bryan and Lynna Walker; Brett Burrows Appraisal; Miller Farms; Nicholson Monument; Angie Ohman, Appraiser; Phil Kliewer; Wheeler Ford, Cordell; David Printing; Jim Burrows Appraisal; TTS Thru Tubing Solutions; Michelle Higgins; Assurance Consulting, JP and Jessica Gass; Pat Emerson; Pepsi, Mark Nicholson; Farm Bureau, Jeff Carlisle; Price Prints, Jim Price; Terry and Diane Igo; BarS, Elk City; Bob and Connie Moore; Kenny and Paulette Walker; Dr. Lisa Walker Eye Care, Elk City, Marcus and Kristen Dowell; RS Meacham CPA, Clinton; GibCo, Jason Giblet Investments; Kathy’s Travel; Right Here C-Store and Subway; Mike’s Meats, Mike Reimer; The Jelly Lady, Debbie Wedel; Kwik n Eze, Cordell; Elk City Golf Course; Boiling Springs Golf Course; Riverside Golf Course, Clinton; Prairie West Golf Course, Weatherford; Darell Merrifield, Merrifield Office Supply; Eagle Realty, Greg Morley; Allen Giblen Insurance; Bean & Ladle, Jennifer Cooper Cary; United Cordell; Tyler Spoon Appraisal LLC; Evetts Drug; Putman Auction Company; Davy and Heather Sewell; Triple R Realty, Michelle Russell; Cordell TV & Appliance; Powers RV LLC, Travis and Chanda Powers; Interbank, Clinton and Sayre; Bank 360; Bank of Western Oklahoma; Dave and Teresa Bryant; Blue Sky Bank; Daren and Janis Switzer; Tractor Supply, Cordell.
“We want to thank our title sponsor, HARD TIMES Beef Jerky. JW Tennery, the owner, helped us have a successful first year. His generosity will not be forgotten. We also want to thank Valerie Fariss and the golf course board members for their service to this course and Alex Alvarez for the pictures and for helping us run the tournament. It was a special day that we know our dad would’ve loved to have seen. Seeing the first cart out there with the sun coming up and our dad’s flag flying over the green was a heartfelt moment. It was like, at that moment, Dad was with us. We can’t thank the Cordell community and all the sponsors enough. This event wouldn’t have happened without their generosity. We have already started planning next year’s event and ways to make it even better!
We are auctioning a golf package for four at the elite BELMAR GOLF CLUB, donated by Jarod Lundy, on Facebook in the next few days. That is an amazing deal!” said Walker.
Follow the Jerry Burrows Memorial Golf Tournament Facebook page for more upcoming information, events, and auctions.
Katy Burrows (center) surrounded by her children (L-R back) Kyle, Jim, Brett, Mark and (L-R front) Brooke and Lynne