All You Have to Do… Is Believe!

It started with a dream—and a perfectly reasonable question: Would anyone actually show up?

Could we convince our friends and family to spend a freezing cold day playing golf dressed as Santa Claus, elves, reindeer, and whatever else they could pull out of the Christmas bin?

Well, what else were they going to do?

Thankfully, our friends and family believed in the idea before we had worked out all the details. Their message was simple: Book the course. Believe. We’ll show up.

And they did. On November 30, more than 50 Santas took to Hillview Country Club to raise money for the Len Miret Scholarship Fund. With cold hands, warm hearts, and some highly questionable golf attire, the Santa Scramble was born.

The Spirit Behind the Santas

My cousin Lenny was a husband, a father of three, and a soccer player and coach who dedicated so much of his life to helping young athletes. In 2006, after a five-year battle with cancer, he passed away at just 38 years old.

Lenny had a captivating spirit and a love for life that made people want to be around him. That spirit is at the heart of the Santa Scramble: bring people together, enjoy every minute, and do something good along the way.

Every year we gather, we keep a little of Lenny with us. I like to think he would appreciate the cause—and have plenty to say about the outfits.

A Little Christmas Chaos. A Lot of Good Company.

We’ve kept the tournament on Massachusetts’ North Shore, where my husband, Matt, grew up and so many of our friends and family still live. As life’s calendar fills with school, practices, work, and a seemingly endless list of places we’re supposed to be, this day has become something we truly treasure.

It’s a chance to catch up, laugh until our faces hurt, and spend time with some of the most special people in our lives. Over the years, it has also brought us wonderful new friends—people who showed up for a round of golf and became part of our Santa Scramble family.

Nothing means more than hearing someone say, “I look forward to this every year,” or, “This is my favorite day.”

Although hearing “There’s pizza coming” is pretty special, too.

Have Some Fun. Do Some Good.

My siblings and I originally hoped to establish a Massachusetts chapter of the Len Miret Scholarship Fund. When the scholarship came to an end, we wanted to keep that generosity going by supporting our local communities.

Our approach has always been simple: If we’re going to get everyone together and have this much fun, we should do some good while we’re at it.

Every player and helping hand makes that possible.

More Merry. Every Year.

When we plan the Santa Scramble, one question keeps coming up: How can we make this even more fun?

Costumes on the course? Obviously.

Games around the course? Let’s try them.

Pizza at the turn? Yes—and we mean a whole cheese pizza delivered right to your cart. Christmas wishes do come true.

Some ideas become traditions. Others give us a good story. Either way, we’re always looking for another reason to make people smile.

Here’s to Many More Merry Rounds

My hope for the Santa Scramble is simple: that we keep showing up—for the fun, for the friendships, and for the people and causes that matter to us.

We’ll keep dreaming up a little more holiday nonsense, finding ways to support the community, and making room for new faces alongside the familiar ones.

So dust off your Santa suit, bring your Christmas spirit, and leave a little room in the cart for pizza.

We’ll book the course. You keep believing.

With love and Christmas cheer,

Margaret Rogers
Founder, The Santa Scramble

The Inaugural Santa Scramble - November 30, 2013