Ralph Vold Memorial Golf Tournament boasts successful inaugural year

PONOKA -- More than $47,000 was raised during this year's Ralph Vold Memorial Golf Tournament.

The inaugural event was held at the Wolf Creek Golf Club from May 22-23 and brought together over 100 golfers to raise funds for the Ponoka Arts, Recreation, and Culture Society. When all was said and done, the tournament raised a total of $47,543 for PARCS goal of bringing a new field house to the community.

The event was organized and hosted by "The Ralph" Tournament Committee, a dedicated group composed of Ralph Vold's family members and local representatives. Due to the overwhelming success of the first event in its first year, the tournament committee has confirmed it will return as an annual event in 2027. 

"A huge thank you to everyone who joined us on the links, our generous sponsors, and to Wolf Creek Golf Resort for helping us honour and celebrate the memory of a great man," reads a statement from the committee. "We are so grateful for the incredible support from our community."

The Town of Ponoka also stepped in as a major civic partner, providing $2,500 to support the inaugural tournament. The efforts brought forth by community stakeholders brings PARCS closer to its field house goal, as fundraising is set to continue this coming fall with PARCStoberfest on Oct. 3. This will feature a night of Bavarian-themed community fundraising at the Stagecoach Saloon in Ponoka.

The proposed field house is slated to include a multi-sport indoor turf field, court spaces, and a community and cultural hub.