Major fundraising, plus mingling over hearty meals and, of course, golf, is a hole in one for the Wings of Freedom Aviation Museum.
The Horsham-based museum will hold its 22nd annual outing at LuLu Country Club in Upper Dublin Township on Oct. 19.
Mark Hurwitz, golf outing organizer and president of the museum’s operations board, said the “significant” funds raised from the event will help to cover costs of restoring aircraft. Restoration of historic aircraft is costly, with supplies for the all-volunteer rebuild of the F-8 Crusader costing more than $10,000 to date.
(from left) Golfers Brendan Barrington, Mark Rhine, golf outing organizer Mark Hurwitz and Phil Lawson prepare to tee off at the 2025 golf outing. Credit Ed Patton
In addition to restoring aircraft – including last year’s unveiling of the Marine One helicopter – the golf outing supports the museum’s mission of “teaching history and keeping history alive,” particularly that of the adjacent Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Willow Grove, which closed in 2011, Hurwitz said.
“The more golfers we have, the greater our income stream,” Hurwitz said. “It really helps us when people understand it’s a fundraiser.”
As an incentive, the museum reduced the cost of this year’s outing by $25 per golfer. Still, the event features lunch, a 12:30 p.m. shotgun start, 18 holes of golf, followed by dinner and opportunities to vie for various raffle baskets and prizes.
“It’s a fun event,” he said.
The Wings of Freedom Aviation Museum golf outing was previously held at Blue Bell Country Club. Credit Virginia Brooke
The Country Club can accommodate 124 golfers, and Hurwitz hopes to sell out, while enticing new donors to support the cause.
“We need golfers,” he said. “We need sponsors.”
If you go
The Wings of Freedom Aviation Museum’s 22nd annual golf outing will be held on Oct. 19 at LuLu Country Club, 1600 S. Limekiln Pike, Glenside. Cost per golfer is $295 and includes lunch at 11 a.m., 18 holes of golf beginning with a 12:30 p.m. shotgun start, followed by dinner, auction/raffles, a museum collectible hat and a goodie bag. Dinner-only tickets are available for $100. Sponsorships, ranging from $150 to $5,000, are available as well. Learn more and register: https://birdease.com/wof.