Bill Murray is shown in a scene from the 1980 comedy film “Caddyshack.”
Photo provided | Warner Brothers
When organizers of kidscommons children’s museum’s annual winter fundraiser called Carnivale ran out of global nation themes to highlight, they entered a whole new world of creativity. Hence 2022’s focus on “Back to the Future,” and the upcoming, lighthearted “Caddyshack” set Feb. 9 at The Commons in downtown Columbus.
That theme is based on the 1980 comic, cult golf film of that name that starred Bill Murray, Chevy Chase and Rodney Dangerfield, among others.
For those unaware of the event’s inspiration, here’s part of Wikipedia’s movie summary: “It tells the story of a caddie, vying for a caddie scholarship, who becomes involved in a feud on the links between one of a country club’s founders and a nouveau riche guest. A subplot involves a greenskeeper who uses extreme methods against an elusive gopher.”
That online entry understandably includes the fact that ESPN has called it “perhaps the funniest sports movie ever made.”
Organizers foresee a swinging time at the upcoming event set to feature food, drinks, and innovative-but-fitting games such as human whack-a-mole.
Seriously.
Thanks to the humor of the kidscommons staff, participants can don a gopher suit and playfully pop up in different sections of a makeshift green in an attempt to avoid being whacked by a foam noodle. Internet clips of such silliness present themselves as both fun and funny.
Brett Findley is among those who can dig it. He’s one of the event’s honorary co-chairs with wife Michelle and also Patrick and Sara Barrett. He is a big golf fan and maybe and an even bigger fan of the “Caddyshack” movie. He sees the evening as one tailor-made for humor.
“We think it’ll be a ton of fun,” Findley said.
The event also will include miniature golf, longest putt competitions and more.
“Columbus is such a great community and always comes together for a good cause,” Findley said. “And Carnivale always is among the highlights of the local fundraisers.”
Like most local fundraisers, the gathering is still regaining its former strength in after the COVID shutdowns. Last year, with a Western theme, it wrangled $100,000 gross, according to organizers. Whitney Hartwell, the museum’s executive director, is hoping for six figures this year and an attendance of about 300 people.
“Ideally, we hope to exceed all that,” Hartwell said.
She, like Findley, is a fan of plenty of Chevy Chase and Bill Murray flicks.
Besides sponsorships, the event generates funds through an auction of everything from experiences such as lavish, catered dinners to novelty sports packages to one-of-a-kind trips and excursions. Sometimes, the friendly bidding wars generate as much interest as the high-end auction items themselves.
Findley pointed out, though, that when it comes to the museum at 309 Washington St. in downtown Columbus, the one item that generates the most interest — at least with his 5-year-old daughter — is the venue’s giant toilet that has garnered national publicity.
“I know that that thing has been there forever,” Findley said, “but it’s still a huge hit.”
Same for the museum itself. It attracted more than 50,000 visitors in 2023.
Tee time
What: kidscommons children’s musuem annual Carnivale fundraiser titled “Caddyshack,” based on the 1980 golf comedy starring Bill Murray, Chevy Chase and Rodney Dangerfield.
When: 7 to 11 p.m. Feb. 9.
Where: The Commons, 300 Washington St. in downtown Columbus.
Tickets: $85 per person. Available until Feb. 8.
Information: kidscommons.org.
