Inaugural Drive for Dolphins Comes Out Swinging

The sunny Sunday afternoon couldn’t have been better for the inaugural Drive for Dolphins, a hole-in-one challenge and low country shrimp boil benefiting the Nashville Dolphins, the nonprofit that provides swimming instruction for children and adults with special needs. After one of the coldest Februarys in recent memory, everyone was excited to be outside watching one golfer after another give it their best shot to win a sleek new Tesla.

The Harpeth Valley Golf Center offered the perfect pandemic-friendly setting, allowing for plenty of distance among golfers, spectators, supporters, volunteers and program participants. The section of the grounds reserved specifically for the event was bustling with activity. In addition to watching contestants tee up to sink the ball into the cup, guests stopped under the big tent to enjoy the music of Airshow, survey a silent auction with scads of fun items and exotic getaways, and refresh themselves with the Dolphins’ signature rum punch from the bar.

A respectable distance away, the team from Spicy Heads Crawfish Co. was in constant motion, boiling Gulf shrimp and passing pounds of it to volunteers who added hearty helpings of smoked sausage, corn and potatoes to bag after bag of takeaway meals. Thanks to a slight breeze, the distinctive salty, peppery aroma reached as far as the driving range and captured the attention of quite a few players, who wandered up to see if they could get in on the fun.

The inaugural Drive for Dolphins was an overwhelming success and sold out days in advance. While no one drove home in the Tesla, the real winners are the children and adults doing everything from learning to blow bubbles to competing on the swim team free of charge, thanks to the funds raised. And the best news is that, as COVID-19 restrictions have relaxed, the Nashville Dolphins are once again in the pool!