When Washington crossed the Delaware on a golf cart

  • Courtesy photo The 17th Annual Buncombe Creek Golf Cart Regatta had 67 entrants on July 4. Most carts were patriotic themed, including one with George Washington crossing the Delaware.
    Courtesy photo The 17th Annual Buncombe Creek Golf Cart Regatta had 67 entrants on July 4. Most carts were patriotic themed, including one with George Washington crossing the Delaware.
  • Courtesy photos Clockwise from top right: In order on the picture: Brian Butler won 2nd place, Hudson Green was our 3rd place winner and Carter Nix took first place with his speedy turtle. Bert Short presented Padyn Harrison for the most fish caught in the girls’ division. She won with 11 fish. Bert Short presented Max Bean with most fish caught in the boys’ division. He won by catching seven fish. RushDavisreceived his trophy for biggest fish by Bert Short. He caught a one pound two ounce bass.
    Courtesy photos Clockwise from top right: In order on the picture: Brian Butler won 2nd place, Hudson Green was our 3rd place winner and Carter Nix took first place with his speedy turtle. Bert Short presented Padyn Harrison for the most fish caught in the girls’ division. She won with 11 fish. Bert Short presented Max Bean with most fish caught in the boys’ division. He won by catching seven fish. RushDavisreceived his trophy for biggest fish by Bert Short. He caught a one pound two ounce bass.

Buncombe Creek is a lakeside community with residents who love to host events for everybody to enjoy. For almost the past two decades, the neighborhood has hosted a Golf Cart Regatta. Citizens sign up for the event, decorate their golf carts, then host a parade. The procession begins at the Baptist Church, then circles back around.

Ron Baldwin, a developer for the area, started the Golf Cart Regatta to give the community members something fun to do. Over the years, it has grown immensely.

One of the organizers Paulette Owens said this year turned out a little bit different.

“Usually, we have about 100 golf carts sign up to participate in the regatta,” Owens said, adding that even though there were only 67 carts that signed up this year, it does not mean the numbers have dwindled. “We had way more people watching.”

Spectators have the ability to leave with candy and goodies that are thrown from the golf carts.

After Baldwin began the annual regatta, his friend, Mickey Brown, took his love for fishing and started the fishing derby. Owens said after her best friend (Brown) passed away, she kept the derby going to keep his memory alive, thus the Annual Mickey Brown Fishing Derby was born.

This year was the Fourteenth Annual derby. Owens said the rain did not deter the competitors because there were 95 kids ages one to twelve who participated. Every child was able to walk away with a prize thanks to the generous donations from contributors.

Padyn Harrison won first place for most fish caught in the girls’ division. She hooked a total of eleven fish, and Max Bean took the boys’ division with seven. Rush Davis bagged the trophy for biggest fish with a one pound, two ounce bass.

The festivities also had the Eleventh Annual Twin Peaks Water Works Turtle Races. Owens has a turtle sanctuary on her property and uses the majority of those turtles for the annual race. She said the sanctuary has become a neighborhood task; everybody helps take care of them. For this year’s race, 62 turtles were on the starting line with 54 of them coming from the sanctuary.

The Fourth of July Festivities have become so popular that people start calling around Spring Break to find out when the events will be taking place.

Owens said she helps with the Buncombe Creek events because of her love for the community. “I love Marshall County and Buncombe Creek. We are more like a family instead of a community.”