JACKSON – The 2014 Bishop’s Cup will feature a new scoring format for golfers and a new location. The tournament, sponsored by the Catholic Foundation of the Diocese of Jackson, was held for the past several years at Colonial Country Club in Jackson. This past spring Colonial closed so tournament organizers looked for a new location.
The newly refurbished Lake Caroline Golf Course in Madison will be the new site and with the new location comes the new format of a “scramble” instead of individual stroke play when the tournament kicks off Thursday, Nov. 6. Previously golfers played their own ball the entire 18 holes and the four lowest scores from parish players would be tallied. The parish with the four lowest scores would win the Bishop’s Cup and take home the trophy until the next year.
Now golfers will be put in foursomes representing one parish and will scramble for the trophy. A scramble is basically playing from the best shot. All four players tee off. The team then chooses the best tee shot and then all play the next shot from that spot. This cycle occurs until the ball is putted into the hole.
The scramble format is faster than stroke play and is more relaxing to play because one depends on teammates to help get the best result.
Parishes can field more than one team. Individual golfers are welcome to play and will be placed in a foursome. That team will have to declare a parish prior to teeing off or they can just enjoy a day of golf without competing. Either way they will be raising funds     for the Catholic Foundation, which supports necessary projects of diocesan parishes, missions and schools through grants.
“We are very excited about the new format and location,” said Rebecca Harris, executive director of the Catholic Foundation. “Golfers will experience a great day being on the links and raising funds to help many of our parishes and missions,” Harris added.
The day concludes with a silent auction and dinner at the Mermaid Restaurant, which is just down the road from the course.
Bishop Joseph Brunini and 23 visionary Catholic leaders from throughout the Diocese of Jackson established the Catholic Foundation in 1973. Their enthusiasm was focused on creating a way to encourage and assist the people of the diocese to provide for the future financial security of their parishes, schools, and other organizations under the auspices of the diocese.
Since then, the Foundation has grown both monetarily and in the number of endowments under its management. In 1973, the managed assets were $173,691 with four endowments, and by 1992 assets were $2,463,356 with 115 endowments.
Today, the Catholic Foundation manages 390 trust funds and insurance policies with more than $20 million in assets. Most parishes and schools in the diocese now have at least one trust to provide for future financial stability. For more information or to sign up for the tournament contact Harris at (601) 969-1880.