Tuesday
October 3, 2023 
lub was deeply affected by the loss of Matthew Renk, the son of Course Superintendent Dave Renk and his wife, Jackie. Matthew passed away at the age of 15 from childhood brain cancer.
The Renk family is a fundamental part of Lookaway’s history as Dave was hand-selected by the course’s renowned designer, Rees Jones, before the course was built.
Renk was present in the beginning during construction and, 22 years later, he manages the continuing improvement of Lookaway Golf course. His care and knowledge have been instrumental in developing the course’s longstanding reputation as an award-winning golf course.
After the loss of Matthew, it was only natural that a golf tournament would be born to honor Matthew’s memory; the very course where he golfed with his father and brothers.
In its ninth year, the Tournament held at Lookaway Golf Club in Buckingham, Sept. 24, opened with lunch, was followed by golf tournament, and culminated with a celebratory reception where the Master of Ceremonies Harry Donahue from Inside Golf entertained and Tournament guests enjoyed special guest speaker Fran Dunphy, the all-time winningest basketball coach in Philadelphia’s Big Five history.
Sloane Auto Group, Haldeman Auto Group, Keenan Motors and Kennedy Auto Group all provided cars on the Par 3 holes for chances to win with a Hole-In-One.
Other honored guests included John and Jen Mulholland and their daughter Danica, a young Levittown girl who was diagnosed on Christmas Day 2018 with brain cancer. The Mulhollands thanked the foundation for their financial support so the family could focus on caring for Danica during her lifesaving treatments at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Today, Danica has no evidence of the disease and is continuing to heal and recover from the cancer and the treatments.
“What touched us most ... the ongoing support of the membership and the passion for the cause year after year. With much gratitude and thanks to all,” said Dave and Jackie Renk.
The tournament was fully subscribed with 123 golfers and raised a record $120,000 from participation fees, donations and sponsorships. Including this year’s total the Renk Foundation Tournament has raised a cumulative of over $820,000 since its start. The foundation directly supports families dealing with this awful disease and the financial hardships associated with the diagnosis, providing money for household bills, medical related expenses and lost wages.
“We’ve been fortunate to have the membership continue to embrace the foundation and what it does for families in crisis. We raised the bar again this year by receiving over $120,000 in donations, a new record, 98.5 percent of which goes directly to recipients,” said John Voltz, Lookaway board member, co-chair of the Matthew Renk Foundation Tournament.
For information on Lookaway Golf Club’s Matthew Renk Foundation Tournament call 215-794-5727 or visit the club’s website, lookawaygc.com.
Kristen M. George is director of membership sales and marketing for Lookaway Golf Club.
