News : VU golfers see storm damage at country club

A storm damaged tree near the hole sponsored by US Bank.

The Rickels brothers pose at the Farmers Bank cow milking game.

Fallen trees line the fareway at the country club.

This fallen limb impaled the asphalt near the clubhouse.

The storm damaged many trees as well as the main building.

Hayley Rippel was one of the players in the annual VU tourney.

Golfers can see many trees damaged by the July 11 storm.

Shane Scott participated in VS golf fund-raiser with Vikettes Cara Hach, Erin Randall & Liz Moen.

Jim Murray tees off.

Water hazard: VU tourney participants play around a sprinkler at the Vinton County Club Friday.

More photos of damaged trees at the golf course...

Almost everything was familiar to participants of the annual Vinton Unlimited Golf Tournament on Friday. The prizes and refreshments offered by the sponsors of various holes. The good-natured teasing about shots, good and not-so-good. The much-needed mulligans.

But at virtually every hole at the Vinton County Club, the golfers could see the unfamiliar sight of storm-damaged trees and buildings as well. Workers were busy Friday afternoon, repairing the roof of the country club. A hole in the awning, caused by a falling tree, still remained. On the other side of the building, another fallen tree landed on the asphalt, impaling the hard surface with one of its large limbs.

"It's really sad to see all these trees gone," said Janet Woodhouse, the coach of the Vinton-Shellsburg girls golf team, as she sat with some of her players. The girls participated in a fund-raising challenge, offering players a chance to bet whether or not their tee shot would land on the green. They have done this for virtually all of the VU tournaments. Once again, golfers had a chance to win a new car with a hole-in-one; but nobody was able to win it.

Look for a list of winners soon on Vinton Today.