FESTIVAL ADDS SCRAMBLE — Dean Martin not only sang, acted and was a comedian, he adored the sport of golf. The Dean Martin Association has added a charity gold scramble to the annual Dean Martin Festival, with the event scheduled to take place on June 13 at the Steubenville Country Club. To register or become a sponsor, contact Cindy Williford, vice president of the association, at deanmartinassoscramble2025@gmail.com. -- Contributed

STEUBENVILLE — Steubenville. The city that every year transforms itself into a stage on which the world can descend and remember its favorite son, Dino Paul Crocetti.

Crocetti, who later would become known as Dean Martin, was nicknamed the “King of Cool.” His music, films and comedic personality earned him fame and popularity for which he is remembered and celebrated each summer through the Dean Martin Hometown Festival.

His fans congregate to Steubenville each June, honoring the Rat Pack member who brought so much joy to the hearts of many. Yet, despite his singing, his acting, his comedic lifestyle, Martin possessed a passion that many oftentimes forget — a special love for golf. So when the Dean Martin Association was invited to lead this year’s hometown festival, it came as no surprise that holding a golf outing as part of the event, was a must.

Cindy Williford, vice president of the association, explained the idea to host a scramble for the sport that Martin was so passionate about, will be honoring his legacy “in a way that aligns with his personality and lifestyle.”

“Golf, with its social atmosphere and emphasis on enjoyment, aligns perfectly with Dean’s image,” Williford stated. “Adding this element to the festival gives his fans another way to celebrate his legacy, while enjoying a quintessentially ‘Dean’ experience.”

The Dean Martin Association Charity Golf Scramble will be played June 13 at the Steubenville Country Club.

Registration will begin at 7 a.m., followed by a shotgun start at tee-time at 8:30 a.m. The money raised through the outing will go toward the Ohio Valley Health Center.

“This scramble combines the charm of golf with the lively spirit of the festival, celebrating one of the world’s most beloved and celebrated entertainers,” Williford said. “The event offers a perfect blend of fun and community engagement. And by blending a game of golf with charity work, it fits right in to the person that Dean Martin was. No one will ever know his amount of charity work and contributions simply because he chose to work behind the scenes.”

The festival already attracts Martin’s fans from across the country — including those abroad.

Through the addition of the scramble, a new dynamic will come into play, broadening the event’s appeal, Williford commented.

“While the festival’s concerts, movie screenings and memorabilia displays cater to fans of Dean’s music and films, the golf scramble invites sports enthusiasts and community members who might not otherwise participate in the festival,” Williford continued. “This creates an opportunity to engage a wider audience and strengthen the festival’s overall draw.”

And there are various ways in which to help raise money for the health center, including registration fees, sponsorship opportunities, drawings and contests.

“Charity work was very close to Dean’s heart and is something he involved himself in from a very young age,” Williford commented.

Martin played golf with notable names that include Don Cherry, Bob Hope, Sam Snead, Bing Crosby, Lee Trevino and Arnold Palmer.

While playing at private courses such as the Riviera, it was obvious his skills and love for the game “were under the radar,” Williford remarked. “But Dean wasn’t the only one under the radar,” she added. “It appears he had been doing research on pro golf tournaments — specifically, the Tucson Conquistadores. It was during this research that more-or-less solidified why so many folks are drawn to him … his huge heart for helping others.”

While reviewing the organization, Martin studied the list of charities that would benefit from tournament funds.

The 1970s saw celebrities attaching their names to golf tournaments.

And Martin wanted to do just that, spending time asking pro golfers about the Conquistadores and its organization. When the group learned Martin was shopping for a tournament, they sought him out, Williford explained, adding the charities that would benefit was what clinched the deal.

The initial agreement between Martin and the Conquistadores was negotiated by charter member Manny Drachman, and penned on a cocktail napkin in the lounge of the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif.

The Dean Martin Tucson Open was scheduled as the third stop on the PGA Tour’s West Coast Celebrity Swing in 1972.

Its foundation promoted athletics among youths and those with special needs in Southern Arizona, providing clubhouses, balls, bats, batting cages, athletic fee waivers, the building of gymnasiums and repairs to gyms already built, paying for field lights, umpires and referees, and scholarships for children who only want to bat, kick, bounce, swim, run or pass a ball.

Martin continued hosting the Tucson Open from 1972-75. With his name on the tournament, the Tucson Open was the only PGA tour tournament to date to have periods in its history when it was named after a celebrity. Following Martin’s reign, Joe Garagiola hosted the event.

Williford stated that by the Dean Martin Association offering a charity golf scramble during the annual festival, it becomes a new way for people to give back to the community and helps to strengthen ties within the Steubenville community.

“Local businesses can get involved as sponsors or vendors — not only for the golf scramble, but for the festival, as well,” Williford said. “By getting involved, the collective effort underscores the community pride that the Dean Martin festival inspires, creating an event that belongs to everyone.”

She is hoping by incorporating the scramble into the annual festival, it will provide an opportunity for the association to establish a new tradition.

“It is the annual events that communities hold which becomes part of the community’s identity,” Williford concluded.

Registration and sponsorships are needed to ensure the success of the scramble, with interested businesses having an opportunity to sponsor holes, donate prizes or provide refreshments, according to officials.

Those who are interested in becoming a sponsor or participating in the golf scramble, can contact Williford by e-mail at deanmartinassoscramble2025@gmail.com.