Putts Fore! Nuts 2025 - A Day of Competition, Connection, & Courage | Event Recap

Editor
Nov 4
5 min read

Updated: Nov 6

The inaugural Putts Fore! Nuts charity mini-golf tournament, hosted by the Wayfinders Testicular Health Fund, made an unforgettable debut on October 18, 2025, at Embers Island Mini-Golf in Ocean City, Maryland. What began as a one-off fundraiser quickly became a now-legendary community event that captured hearts, sparked hope, and is being celebrated as a runaway success.

Event Highlights

The SOLD OUT event had 165 total attendees, comprised of participants, sponsors, vendors, and volunteers. Altogether, over $35,000 was raised to fuel the Wayfinders Testicular Health Fund’s mission of empowering young men in the fight against testicular cancer through awareness, education, and community support.

Event Registration at Embers Island Mini-Golf

As attendees arrived to register their teams for play, they were greeted by therapy dogs from the Tri-State Canine Response Team, who are trained to help take hospital patients' minds off of their illnesses or upcoming procedures. Participants were then handed event t-shirts, provided by Midshore Veterinary Services, and fanny packs filled with items that would add to their day of fun in the sun. Those items included sponsored scorecard pencils (provided by ASG Accounting Strategies Group LLC), can koozies (provided by Steward Writing and Communications), and branded golf balls (provided by Richard Marks and "Who Framed You").

Ringing in the Moment 🔔

During the opening ceremony, the crowd was stunned when WayfindersTHF founder, Andrew Dorbin, was surprised by his wife, Megan, who took the stage to present him with a survivorship bell. Andrew had previously been unable to ring the “last day of chemo” bell two years prior due to treatment complications and an extended hospitalization. This time, surrounded by family, friends, and supporters of the cause, he finally rang the bell and celebrated his first major remission milestone. The atmosphere was electric as Ben Connolly, of Centerville, MD, got the balls rolling by playing his rendition of the National Anthem. It was clear that this wasn't going to be a one-off fundraiser; it was the beginning of a movement.

Teeing Off To Make A Difference

Once registration and the opening ceremonies concluded, our competitors took to the course to putt with purpose. As they began to sink their putts, our participants realized how they could make a difference in their own lives and the lives of others. Reaching for their golf balls, they were reminded to regularly check their testicles for lumps, bumps, changes in size, firmness, or any other abnormalities. At every other hole, they were quizzed about testicular cancer facts so that everyone walked away from this event a winner.

Laughter Is The Best Medicine 🤭

While the event carried deep emotional significance, it was also packed with laughter and friendly competition; thanks in part to the inclusion of Hole Hecklers, a professional comedy group brought on sponsorship by Rise Up Coffee Roasters.

As players approached a designated hole featuring a mock sports casting booth, they were roasted (with jokes) live at the tee in spectacular fashion. This memorable sponsorship alone raised over $3,000 with additional raffle ticket sales!

Participants Were Dressed To The Tee 👕

While some participant teams wore their event t-shirts, most of them showed up in testicle or golf-themed outfits as they jockeyed for the “Best Dressed Team” award. Ultimately, the winner's stroke of genius included homemade “nut sacks” crafted out of mesh bags filled with fallen acorns. They took home 4 K-Coast Surf Shop gift cards and hats.

Awards & Highlights 🏆

While we truly believe that every participant walked away from this event a winner, we were excited to crown a champion and award a select few with prizes. Coming in first place, Dalton Lawson won our golden putter, a luxury watch, a commemorative crystal golf ball, and, maybe most importantly, bragging rights. In second place, Brandon Langrell won a Yeti cooler filled with Maryland-made goods, and in third place, Rick Bishop won a Calloway Golf Range Finder.

🥇 1st Place Champion — Golden Putter + Seiko Speedtimer SSC813 watch from TNT Jewelers + Commemorative Crystal Golf Ball

🥈 2nd Place — YETI cooler filled with Maryland-made goods + Commemorative Crystal Golf Ball

🥉 3rd Place — High-end Callaway golf range finder + Commemorative Crystal Golf Ball

⛳️ "Hole-in-One" Raffle Winner — PutterBall backyard game set
🧑‍🤝‍🧑 "Most People Recruited to Play" — Gift basket from Scottish Highland Creamery
🙋🏻‍♀️ Volunteer Appreciation — Every volunteer received gift cards to local businesses
🥜 "No Losers" Prizes (awarded to the bottom 3 players) — Awarded with Caddysack comedy prizes

Special Thanks to Our Sponsors & Partners 🫱🏼‍🫲🏽

This event would not have been possible without the rallied support and financial sponsorships of local businesses. They stepped up to help fund and educate our community on the benefits of early detection, the key to beating this disease. We cannot thank all of you enough.

Principle Sponsor

Good Life Property Management

Major Event Sponsors

Embers Island Mini-Golf (Venue Host)
Blu Crabhouse and Raw Bar (Secondary Venue Partner)
Rise Up Coffee Roasters (Hole Hecklers Sponsor)
Midshore Veterinary Services (T-shirt Sponsor)
Pepsi Bottling Ventures (Beverage Sponsor)
George & Marilynn Higley (Snack Sponsor)
Richard Marks & "Who Framed You" with Callaway Golf (Branded Ball Sponsor)
ASG, Accounting Strategies Group, LLC (Scorecard Pencil Sponsor)

Prize Sponsorships

TNT Jewelers
Caddysack
Putterball Game
Bluepoint Hospitality
The Scottish Highland Creamery
The West Wing Salon & Spa
K-Coast Surf Shop

Team Sponsorships

F.O.P. Bethany Beach Lodge 16
Becker Morgan Group
M&L Truck Services
Weems Brothers

Tee Box Sponsorships

Barbara Blosser of Long and Foster Realty in Denton, MD
Mid-Atlantic Resource Services Inc.
SDG Golf
Hill's Industrial
Richard Phillips of State Farm Insurance in Easton, MD
M/S Hollow Metal Wholesale, LLC
Supplies Unlimited Inc.
The Sand Castle VRBO
David Connolly of Baird Private Wealth Management in Centerville, MD
Johns Hopkins Sydney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center

In Honor/Memorial Tee Box Sponsorships

Dr. Michael J. Fisher
Ezra Thomas Hoffner
Dr. Rosaire Verna
John & Helen Klousia
Jack & Joanne Fisher
Bob Malone
Nicholas Bramble
Samuel Carroll
Mary Sourber
Bob & Connie Blades
Joseph Edward Spuria
Pierina DiSerafino
Marianne Hollis
Jack Forbes
Betty & Wilson Steward
Jimmy Christopher
Ann & Mac Lord

This Is Only the Beginning 📈

Putts Fore! Nuts 2025 proved that love, laughter, and community are stronger than cancer. Our participants left our event ready to break the stigma that surrounds testicular cancer by initiating conversations about it with their friends and family, remembering to be bold, be brave, and be aware.

Wayfinders Testicular Health Fund is already planning the next Putts Fore! Nuts event in October 2026. It'll be bigger, better, and even more unforgettable. Stay tuned for official announcements and get ready to tee it up again with us next year.