Podgwaite memorial golf tournament looks to support Waterbury, Northfield ambulance services
August 24, 2023 | By Waterbury Roundabout 
On Sunday, Sept. 17, Northfield Ambulance Volunteers and Waterbury Ambulance Service will co-host the 7th Annual Podgwaite Memorial Golf Tournament at the Northfield Country Club.
This is the first time the two first-responder agencies will collaborate on this event which started to support the Northfield Ambulance Volunteers in memory Betty Podgwaite, a former member of Northfield Ambulance who passed away from cancer in 2006. Betty was married to Mark Podgwaite, the former executive director of Waterbury Ambulance Service who passed away last October unexpectedly at the age of 60.
Recently, Northfield Ambulance approached Waterbury Ambulance Service’s trustees to suggest that the two agencies co-host the tournament, in memory of both Betty and Mark, with the two organizations sharing the proceeds.
“It was a very kind gesture on Northfield’s part, and the WASI trustees agreed it was a great opportunity to work together to support both organizations,” said Waterbury Ambulance Service Executive Director Maggie Burke.
The groups agreed to work together this year with the event in Northfield from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Next year it will be held at Blush Hill Country Club in Waterbury, and then alternating each year going forward, she explained.
With the tournament just a few weeks away, organizers are looking for teams to participate and for sponsors to help with prize donations and hole sponsorships. There are also numerous opportunities for non-golfers to assist at the tournament. Volunteer tasks include assisting with the putting contest, spotting for holes-in-one on a prize hole, selling mulligans and raffle tickets. No previous experience is necessary.
Registration for the 18-hole tournament opens at 8 a.m. with play starting at 9 a.m. Registration fee is $100 per player.
One prize in the tournament is a Public Safety Award given to the lowest-scoring team comprised of mostly first responders (police, fire, EMS, dispatch, etc.) Burke said that team gets to keep the trophy at their station for the year. “We want that trophy at the WASI building,” she said.
For more information on donating prizes, sponsoring the event, or volunteering, contact Courtney Guyette, Waterbury Ambulance Service’s volunteer event coordinator, with an email to Courtney.guyette@waterburyambulance.org.
More information about the event including registration and sponsorships is online on the Podgwaite Memorial Golf Tournament website. Anyone unable to attend but wishing to support the fundraiser can make a donation on the registration site as well.