Scroll through the Years
A look back at the best holiday charity golf tournament South of the North Pole!
The 12th Annual Santa Scramble
Date: November 8th, 2025
Our 12th running of the golfing Santas took place on a beautiful 62-degree November Saturday at Mount Hood Golf Club. Funds were raised in honor of Craig Rogers to benefit the International Association for Spelling as Communication (I-ASC). Neil and Lori Rogers shared an emotional account of their experience raising a nonspeaking son and the years of searching for a way for Craig to communicate. After years of hope and perseverance, they were finally able to hear from their son in a way they had long dreamed of. Craig also wrote a special note to the tournament, which was shared with the crowd during our post golf festivities — making for one of the most memorable moments in Santa Scramble history. On the course, Pat Sullivan & Co. captured the Santa Scramble Trophy for the second consecutive year, becoming the tournament’s latest back-to-back champions.
The 11th Annual Santa Scramble
Date: November 9, 2024
Santas took to the links for the 11th Annual Santa Scramble, raising funds for three incredible causes: the Love for Laney Foundation, supporting bereaved parents; Tommy’s Place, providing free, magical vacations for children battling cancer; and the family of Joe Lecesse, a Stoneham legend and friend to so many Santa Scramble tournament-goers.
The 11th Annual also marked the beginning of a new Santa Scramble tradition with our first official after-party at Mount Hood. What followed was a raucous and rowdy raffle where the roof nearly blew off the place with the announcement of each new ticket color.
On the course, Pat Sullivan & Co. captured their first Santa Scramble title narrowly beating Pete Sucharewicz. & Beverly’s finest.
The 10th Annual Santa Scramble
Date: November 11, 2023
The 10th Annual Santa Scramble marked a major change in tournament history, as the North Pole officially relocated to Mount Hood Golf Course in Melrose, Massachusetts for the first time.
Fundraising that year supported the 11 Reisman Giving Tree at Beth Israel Hospital, organized by Marisa Garro and the incredible BIDMC nurses who help purchase Christmas gifts for children whose parents are undergoing cancer treatment. Post game festivities were held at “The Fish” (The Melrose Fish & Game Club)
On the course, Ryan Martin & Co. captured the 10th Annual Santa Scramble title, ending the Sullivan Foursome’s reign and becoming the first champions of the Mount Hood era.
The 9th Annual Santa Scramble
Date: November 11, 2022
A few morning showers threatened the 9th Annual Santa Scramble, but the rain quickly cleared and gave way to a record-setting November day. By the second or third hole, layers of Santa costumes were falling almost as quickly as the scores across the course. November 11, 2022 reached a remarkable 76 degrees in the Boston area.
More than 120 Santas took to the links and raised funds in honor of Francine Coughlin, a longtime friend of the Santa Scramble and spouse of longtime tournament player Mike Coughlin. Funds raised that year benefited the Ellie Fund, a fantastic organization that provides essential support services to breast cancer patients and their families, helping ease the stresses of everyday life during treatment. Post-golf festivities continued at the Moose Club in North Reading. And on the course, one thing remained unchanged: the Sullivans continued their dominance, adding another Santa Scramble title to their growing collection.
The 8th Annual Santa Scramble
Date: November 13, 2021
On November 13, 2021, North Reading experienced a day of severe and highly unusual autumn weather, with more than a dozen tornadoes reported across Massachusetts.Despite the wild weather, the tournament was our most successful to date. The day welcomed plenty of new players, featured a hole-in-one, and was followed by an incredibly generous round for the tournament at the Horseshoe Bar & Grill. A huge shout-out also goes to Kayte Lenehan, who stepped up to take on many of the pre-event responsibilities and raffle duties that helped make the day possible. Fundraising supported the Love for Linley Foundation.
On the course, the Sullivans captured their seventh Santa Scramble title, which would sadly be Christine Sullivan’s final tournament. The mother of three remains undefeated in Santa Scramble play to this day — a perfect record that will never be broken. Always with us in spirit.
The 7th Annual Santa Scramble
Date: November 16, 2019
While spirits were high for Santa Scramble No. 8, the temperature most certainly was not. A bitterly cold and windy day couldn’t stop the field from parading Christmas spirit across the frozen grounds. The tournament also delivered a first in Santa Scramble history: a tie — and a playoff.
The perennial powerhouse Sullivans found themselves deadlocked with a foursome captained by Reading’s own Pat “One Gulp” Daley. With the bundled-up crowd looking on, the two teams headed to the Par-4 10th hole to settle things once and for all. In the end, the poise and experience of the Sullivans proved too much. They survived the playoff and captured yet another Santa Scramble title in front of a chilled capacity crowd.
Frozen fairways. One Gulp. One playoff. The Same Ole Sullivans.
The 6th Annual Santa Scramble
Date: November 17, 2018
With any outdoor event held in November — particularly in North Reading, affectionately known as “Baby New Hampshire” — you always run the risk of winter arriving a little early.Mother Nature delivered that year, dropping a midweek snowstorm that somehow melted just about everywhere else in Middlesex County except North Reading. With the course unplayable, the Santas did what Santas do: showed up anyway. The crew gathered for snow angels, Christmas carols, a few holiday beverages, and the annual Long Drive Competition, won by tournament legend and Woburn’s own Matt Bishop, who hit a ball that, by all accounts, has yet to land.
But the most impressive feat of the day — and perhaps one of the greatest athletic achievements ever witnessed — belonged to Cousin Tim “Harry Lyme” Murphy, who stepped in front of a capacity crowd and absolutely piped a pink golf ball roughly 200 yards. The color of the ball is insignificant. Those just happen to be the facts.
With actual golf officially off the table, the crew relocated to the Horseshoe Tavern for an early celebration and raffle. No golf. Plenty of snow. One airborne golf ball. And another Santa Scramble in the books. At least the Sullivan’s didn’t win!
The 5th Annual Santa Scramble
Date: Nov 18, 2017
On November 18, 2017, the Santas returned for the 5th Annual Santa Scramble, a day that delivered one of the most dramatic finishes in tournament history.
Prince made his now-legendary appearance — notably without his bride, who had the apparently more important obligation of giving birth to their first daughter. On the course, the Purple Reindeer stood one hole away from finally ending the Sullivan dynasty. Holding the tournament lead heading to the 18th, they needed only to close the deal. Instead, the Reindeer bogeyed while the Sullivans birdied, completing a stunning final-hole comeback.
Just like that, the dynasty survived. Five tournaments. Five Sullivan titles. And one Purple Reindeer collapse that still lives in Santa Scramble infamy.
The 4th Annual Santa Scramble
Date: November 19, 2016
On November 19, 2016, the Santas returned for the 4th Annual Santa Scramble, bringing another year of questionable golf, Christmas spirit, and a growing group of friends together for a great cause.
By year four, the Scramble was officially becoming a holiday tradition — although one tradition was becoming a little too predictable.
The Sullivans won. Again.
Four tournaments. Four titles. The dynasty was officially getting ridiculous.
The 3rd Annual Santa Scramble
Date: November 21, 2015
The good girls and boys of the Santa Scramble were finally rewarded with a chilly but absolutely picturesque day for the third running of the Santas.
The tournament continued to grow, setting new records for both attendance and fundraising, while also producing one of the more unforgettable sights in Scramble history. Chris Plant, donned his now-famous Mary costume, accompanied, naturally, by his Three Wise Men.
What started as a crazy idea just a few years earlier was officially becoming a tradition.
And on the course, the dynasty continued. The Sullivans went for the three-peat — and got it.
The 2nd Annual Santa Scramble
Date: December 6th, 2014
After back-to-back weekends of wintry weather, the players had finally had enough. Whatever happened on December 6th, whatever came through those doors — we were playing golf. Only six foursomes made it to Hillview Country Club that morning, but those who showed up kept the spirit of Len Miret alive, battling through a brutally cold, wet round that tested just how committed a group of grown men dressed like Santa Claus could really be.Funds were once again raised for the Len Miret Scholarship, with the survivors thawing out afterward at the Great American Tavern in North Reading.
On the course, a familiar name emerged. By just a single stroke, the Sullivans claimed their second consecutive Santa Scramble title.
Cold. Wet. Six foursomes. Zero chance of cancellation. And 24 Costumes in the Hillview Dumpster.
The Inaugural Santa Scramble
Date: November 30, 2013
With the temperature at a scorching 25 degrees, the first shot in Santa Scramble history was a beautiful downhill 9-iron, tracking toward the green like a heat-seeking missile. There was just one problem: the green was frozen solid. The ball hit like it had landed on asphalt, launched about 100 feet into the air, and finished roughly 80 yards over the green. Our Santas were going to be in for a long day.
But frozen greens weren’t going to dampen anyone’s spirits. On November 30, 2013, the slightly ridiculous dream of more than 60 Santa Clauses parading across a golf course became a reality — and the Santa Scramble was born. And what is that at the turn…PIZZA ??????? What tourney hands out Pizzas at the turn!
Funds that first year were raised to benefit the Len Miret Scholarship, honoring Margaret’s beloved cousin Lenny, who had passed away years earlier. Lenny’s infectious zest for life, gregarious spirit, love of athletics, and ability to bring people together represented everything we hoped the Santa Scramble would become.And somewhere along the way, it did.
On the course, the Sullivans claimed the inaugural Santa Scramble Championship — the first of what would become many tournament victories.
