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Pulling together is what communities are all about

Pulling together is what communities are all about Pulling together is what communities are all about

Lake Holcombe Lion Mike Schmidt guided Lion Jim Mataczysnki as he drove a Whispering Pines Golf Course cart onto one of the two flat-bed trailers used to haul the vehicles, a couple days prior to the annual tournament at Uncle Salty’s Golf Course in Holcombe. It took a little maneuvering and some engineering, but the freshly washed carts finally made it onto the trailers to be strapped down and transported the roughly 25 miles, one way, then back again. Photo by Ginna Young

By Ginna Young

Giving in the area doesn’t just come during Christmas, as proven by communities helping others, year round. In late summer, this was never more apparent, when a Cadott business stepped up to help a Holcombe business and service club.

A devastating fire occurred at Uncle Salty’s Golf Course in Holcombe, not long before the annual Lake Holcombe Lions Club golf tournament. The shed storing the course’s golf carts caught fire and burned to rubble, which threw everyone into a limbo.

Would they still be able to hold the tournament? Would they need to severely limit the number of entries?

Whispering Pines Golf Course in Cadott, answered those questions and alleviated some of the worries. When reached out to by a Lake Holcombe Lion, the Whispering Pines owners donated the use of 14 carts, if the Lions would haul them.

“We would hope that someone would show us the same kindness if tragedy struck…we are all in this together and we pull together…” said Todd Rykal, co-owner of Whispering Pines.

The Lions jumped at the chance to still offer the tournament, which is a big moneymaker for their organization. They quickly rounded up some flat-bed trucks and gratefully hauled the carts between the courses.

Although Uncle Salty’s, which has since changed hands, continues to try to recover from their disaster, former owner Bill Carrell hopes the new owners will carry on in developing the course/campground/entertainment area. The communities of Holcombe and Cadott each have their own uniqueness, their histories and stories, but what ties them together, is that everyone needs a helping hand now and then.

“The people from Whispering Pines are amazing for helping make the Lions club tournament a success,” said Carrell. “Would not have been able to go forward if it wasn’t for them.”

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="366"] Nothing but a pile of twisted metal, rubble and scorched trees remained of what was once Uncle Salty’s Golf Course’s shed in Holcombe, after a blaze destroyed most of the carts stored in the metal building. Local fire departments worked to put out the inferno that happened in late summer, but to no avail and Uncle Salty’s will now continue to rebuild from the disaster. Photo by Ginna Young[/caption]  
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