Anthony Dionne, James A. Edwards, and Father Joe Sax (Photos: Michael Donahue)

This yearโ€™s 66th Hole-in-One Charity Festival at St. Louis Catholic Church drew โ€œwell over 10,000, but maybe pushing 15,000,โ€ says Wes Kraker, whoโ€™s been involved with Hole-in-One for more than 20 years.

June 21st and 22nd drew at least 2,500 people each night, Kraker says.

This is the annual St. Louis fundraiser that begins on Fatherโ€™s Day and ends six days later. 

As Kraker explained to me last year, โ€œWe transform the campus at St. Louis Church into a 37-tee-box range. And we give out cash and prizes for good golfers for getting holes-in-one or close to the hole. Certain qualifiers shoot out for a car from City Auto. And we accumulate points for performers all week. And those top 10 performers shoot out for a million dollars on Saturday.โ€

The St. Louis Menโ€™s Club puts on the event. Proceeds go to St. Louis Church sports, scouting, and youth ministry programs.

The โ€œSt. Louis Menโ€™s Club Culinary Instituteโ€ makes outstanding food, including barbecued bologna. 

Michael Donahue began his career in 1975 at the now-defunct Memphis Press-Scimitar and moved to The Commercial Appeal in 1984, where he wrote about food and dining, music, and covered social events until...