Benefiting Feherty's Troops First Foundation, 206 players participated in the 2nd Annual Vaqueros del Mar Invitational.
More than $250,000 was raised to benefit the foundation.
November 4, 2012
It’s amazing what can happen when a few folks get together to play golf. Recently, Tom Cusick and George Strait, owners of The Resort at Tapatio Springs, invited some folks to join them for their second annual Vaqueros del Mar celebration, held this year at The Range at Leon Springs and The Resort at Tapatio Springs. By the time everyone left for home, over $250,000 in donations for the Troops First Foundation had been left behind. Cusick and Strait were joined by former professional golfer and Troops First Foundation co-founder David Feherty, co-founder Rick Kell, and the world’s top golf instructor, Butch Harmon. Singers Randy Rogers, Ray Benson of Asleep at the Wheel, Jamey Johnson, Wade Bowen and Kyle Park rounded out an unbelievable night of entertainment topped off with The King of Country Music on stage for over 45 minutes. “I had hoped to raise at least $50,000 for our wounded warriors, and this event way exceeded my expectations,” Cusick said of the fundraiser. “With the addition of Feherty, Harmon as well as all the entertainers, we received a lot of face book and twitter activity for Boerne all over the world”. The two-day celebration was hosted by the Strait and the Cusick families to benefit the foundation which provides assistance to service members who have suffered devastating injuries while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Over 450 people from all over attended, including some from destinations as far away as Pebble Beach, California, Yellowstone, Wyoming, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, Scottsdale, Arizona and the states of Iowa and Kansas. The events kicked off Saturday, Nov. 3, with a cocktail reception at The Range at Leon Springs on I-10 in Leon Springs. Guests enjoyed food, music and an entertaining clinic from Harmon. While the Hole in One Shoot Out was enjoyed by many and the pressure of the audience intensified, no one was able to win the new Cavender Chevrolet offered. The celebration continued Sunday, Nov. 4, at The Resort at Tapatio Springs where participants competed in a golf tournament. Following the tournament, dinner, drinks and a jam session featuring Benson, Johnson, Rogers, Bowen and Park was enjoyed by the many guests on hand The largest donation, $105,000, was given during an auction for a Las Vegas package that included four tickets to Strait’s Super Bowl Weekend concert, private jet transportation, a guitar signed by Strait, and a private golf clinic with Harmon. According to Cusick, during the auction Strait donated his boots and shirt, followed by Feherty, who donated his boots and signature vest. “The price just kept climbing,” Cusick said. Terry Warren and Bob Fair of Odessa, Texas claimed the package. Another popular auction item proved to be a five-night stay at the Cusick’s “C Forever” property in Telluride, Colorado. So popular, in fact, it was auctioned off twice. After the item was won by Mr. and Mrs. David Stasky, the same package was offered again. The second winner was Mary Jane Simpson of Columbus, Kansas. The two packages raised over $45,000, according to Cusick. Other auction items included exotic boots by Luchesse from Ranch at the Rim, four tickets to the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, and a Pebble Beach golf package which included rounds at Cypress Point, Spanish Bay, Spyglass, and Pebble Beach.