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Host: You know, about a minute and a half to our first hard break I want to throw the teaser out – the golf tournament, that’s what brought you in.
Derek: Yes.
Host: And, August 24th?
Derek: August 24th.
Host: And where is it?
Derek: It’s at Cypress Run Golf Club in Tarpon Springs. It’s a very nice private club. We’ll be starting at 2 pm, shotgun style. It’s just an amazing venue, an amazing cause, and we hope we can get as many people out there to support us and play as we can. It’s a great cause and I look forward to the years to come when this event becomes very very successful and we’re able to put many many people into treatment that need it.
Host: Well the fact that you, you’re saying you doubled it over last year?
Derek: Yes.
Host: That’s spectacular.
Derek: Yeah, we’re very happy with the turnout and we’re still pushing – we have a week and a half – we still have that last push to try to get more sponsors and more players to make the event even bigger and better.
Host: August 24th, it starts at what, one o’clock, right?
Derek: One o’clock check in, two pm is the shotgun start.
Host: And the golf course again?
Derek: Cypress Run, private club in Tarpon Springs. Really really beautiful track – if any of you out there are aware of golf – it’s an outstanding golf course.
Host: And I’m assuming they’re working side by side with you…
Derek: Yes.
Host: …to make this thing work.
Derek: Yes. Tom Tripoli is the owner of Cypress Run. I actually will be meeting with him tomorrow – and Lew Smither who is his golf director – to iron out the last few details. He’s done great for us. He’s sent the message out to his member and the people that he comes in contact with on a daily basis to try to help this event grow and raise as much money as we can for the scholarship fund.
Host: You know, for a golf facility like Cypress Run to reach out – I’m curious what kind of feedback are you getting from them? In other words… was this where it was last year?
Derek: No, no, huh uh.
Host: Oh, okay.
Derek: It’s a new venue.
Host: So, how does it begin? You talk to the principals of Cypress Run and they have to have an interest in helping people, otherwise they wouldn’t be doing it.
Derek: Yes. Tom Tripoli, I reached out to him, and he was about as receptive as the owner of a golf course could be. I mean, he was absolutely on board from the jump. Very very excited about the cause. He didn’t get into any detail, but obviously he too had been somehow affected – someone he had known or someone very close to him had been affected by addiction and he reached out, grabbed ahold with both hands and he’s been right there with us. I really really thank him for that and I thank him for his support.
Host: Well, the feedback you’re getting from him, if you’re double what you had last year. He apparently is talking about this tournament, I’m sure there’s a number of signs and there’s promotion for this tournament. Not only is the number of people doubled over last year, but is he sharing with you the comments he’s receiving from people that want to be part of it?
Derek: Well, that’s what we’re going to discuss tomorrow, we’re going to get into some detail about who he’s spoke to, who he’s contacted, and what kind of feedback that he has. He’s obviously very busy, so we finally made some time to get together to talk about everything that’s gone on over the last few months.
Host: Well, you know we just talked to Patricia, Sober World Magazine, of course Kelsey before that, Kelsey with DSquared Media, and they clearly – you can hear it in their voice, this is not only a business proposition, but there’s some passion behind the event. There’s passion behind why they’re a part of it. I find that rewarding.
Derek: Yeah, absolutely, you know it’s amazing how many people are affected by drug and alcohol addiction. How can you not stand up and help out, you know? It touches all of us, and it’s just something everybody can relate to. I don’t believe there’s anybody out there that hasn’t been affected by this. If there is one person, I’d like to meet them because I think you’re living in a rock – or under a rock somewhere, because it’s everywhere.
Host: Do you – you don’t have it written in front of you, some of the other sponsors at the golf tournament? Do you remember some, we’ve heard from four.
Derek: Oh, we have Publix, we have WWJB Radio in Brooksville, we have Loud Mouth Golf which I am a huge fan of myself – their very interesting clothing, I know I’m going to forget some because I don’t have them in front of me… uh…
Host: No, it’s not fair. It’s like you were mentioning all the wonderful people at Suncoast and I avoided that, I just…
Derek: Yeah. They all know who…
Host: Tammy Strickling and everyone that works with Tammy.
Derek: Well, you guys said I was in charge earlier and I just want to apologize to Tammy for that. I did not say that, that was all him.
Host: I thought that there was – I thought that they were having a hard time deciding, should it be the “Derek Queener tournament” or the “Suncoast tournament.” I thought Suncoast just happened to win on a coin flip. Did I get that wrong?
Derek: Well, I don’t think any – if you grew up with my last name, as much as I’m very proud of my last name, it was not the easiest last name to grow up with, so I think “Suncoast Rehabilitation Charity Golf Tournament” sounds a lot better than “Derek Queener.”
Host: August 24th, Saturday.
Derek: Saturday 2 PM, registration’s at 1.
Host: Cypress Hill…
Derek: Cypress Run.
Host: Cypress Run.
Derek: Cypress Run in Tarpon Springs.
Host: That’s spectacular.
