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GUSTAVUS — Never golfed before? Don’t let that stop you from attending the 12th annual Mary Hervin Golf Tournament on June 19.

“Just make up your mind to go out there and fun,” said tournament founder Mary Hervin, who turned 89 this year.

Hervin started the women’s tournament shortly after the Mt. Fairweather Golf Course first opened, in the hopes of sparking a tradition.

“I like traditional things,” she said. “I like to get things going and then (see them) continue on.”

That, and she loves to golf.

The golf tournament drew 21 women the first year, and since then as many as 37 have turned out. Golfers of all ages — both skilled and novice — regularly come from Juneau, Sitka and even Anchorage for the event.

At first, the tournament was only meant to pay for itself, but it has since grown into a successful fundraiser, with proceeds benefiting the Gustavus Library and Gustavus Community Clinic in past years. This year the tournament will raise money to buy new computers for the clinic office.

Hervin thinks she might sit this year out, but she’ll still be at the tournament — “I’ll get out there and see that they’re doing it right,” she said.

And doing it right mostly means having a good time.

“We’re not good golfers, we just play,” she said. “We just have fun.”

Teams of four players are drawn at random on the day of the tournament, and they play “best ball” — that is, each player drives the ball and then play the best drive. “That helps us along,” Hervin said, adding that out of 20 regular participants, four or five might be considered really good golfers.

There’s a drawing for donated prizes afterwards, then the group gathers for dinner and a gift exchange at Hervin’s house. Community members donate food, and the dinner is catered by volunteers from the clinic.

“We just have fun, tell stories,” Hervin said. “Everyone is supposed to bring a wrapped gift. Everyone goes home with something. Some of them are cute, some of them are comical.”

Hervin, who has lived in Gustavus for three decades — “It’s just a great place for me” — says it’s hard to beat the Mt. Fairweather Golf Course’s location, especially now when the blue lupine are in bloom.

“The scenery all around is spectacular,” she said. “It’s right on the water too.”

All women are invited to participate in the 12th annual Mary Hervin Golf Tournament in Gustavus, presented by the Gustavus Visitors Association. The tournament begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 19 on the Mt. Fairweather Golf Course, and dinner will begin at 5 p.m. at Mary Hervin’s home. The cost is $50 for golf, prizes, and dinner, and all proceeds support the Gustavus Community Clinic. Bring a fun gift for the gift exchange.

To sign up to participate, contact Maribeth Jarvis (907-697-2828) or Janie Sheahan (907-697-3017) in Gustavus, or Michelle Grose-Bray (907-723-7335) in Juneau.

Checks should be made payable to Gustavus Community Clinic and mailed to P.O. Box 399, Gustauvs, AK, 99826 or c/o Maribeth Jarvis, P.O. Box 358, Gustavus, AK, 99826.

For travel information, visit http://www.gustavusak.com/.