The Demopolis Rotary Club hosted its 36th annual charity golf tournament Friday, May 8, raising more than $9,000 for Alabama-based causes.

“This is the best tournament we’ve had in 10 years by far,” tournament organizer Jay Reynolds said of the event.

The 2009 tournament saw 88 golfers participate, a marked increase over the 70 that took part in the 2008 event.

A portion of the increase in participation can likely be attributed to a change in the event’s format.

“I think it was a very positive response,” Reynolds said of the reaction to the alterations. “We changed the format on half of (the tournament). The medal play stayed, but we changed from match play to four-ball.”

The tournament’s strong year is likely another positive sign that the event is experiencing a resurgence after tailing off in the early to mid 1990s.

“The tournament was started in 1973 for the benefit of the crippled children’s charity, which was later turned in to Camp ASCAA. It was started as a competition between civic clubs to see who could raise the most money,” Reynolds said. “As is evolved, Rotary just took it over and ran the tournament for the crippled children’s fund.”

In the last four years, the event has raised more than $27,000 for Camp ASCAA and an assortment of local charities.

“We owe a thanks to the Demopolis Country Club for hosting, all the committee members and volunteers, all the participants and golfers and a special thanks to all the businesses who helped sponsor the event,” Reynold said. “I think the tournament over the last five years has been rebuilt. I expect it to continue to improve and grow over the next five years.”