Single-digit weather did not keep golfers from participating in this year’s Lake County Chili Open at Black Brook Golf Course and Practice Center in Mentor. The annual open, which took place on the morning of Jan. 24 at 8900 Lakeshore Blvd., benefits the United Way of Lake County. The 140 particip ants played nine snowy holes of golf, which was followed by chili, hot dogs and hot chocolate. Single-digit weather did not keep golfers from participating in this year's Lake County Chili Open at Black Brook Golf Course and Practice Center in Mentor. (Marah Morrison -- The News-Herald)Single-digit weather did not keep golfers from participating in this year's Lake County Chili Open at Black Brook Golf Course and Practice Center in Mentor. (Marah Morrison -- The News-Herald)Single-digit weather did not keep golfers from participating in this year's Lake County Chili Open at Black Brook Golf Course and Practice Center in Mentor. (Marah Morrison -- The News-Herald)Single-digit weather did not keep golfers from participating in this year's Lake County Chili Open at Black Brook Golf Course and Practice Center in Mentor. (Marah Morrison -- The News-Herald)Single-digit weather did not keep golfers from participating in this year's Lake County Chili Open at Black Brook Golf Course and Practice Center in Mentor. (Marah Morrison -- The News-Herald)Single-digit weather did not keep golfers from participating in this year's Lake County Chili Open at Black Brook Golf Course and Practice Center in Mentor. (Marah Morrison -- The News-Herald)Show Caption1 of 6Single-digit weather did not keep golfers from participating in this year's Lake County Chili Open at Black Brook Golf Course and Practice Center in Mentor. (Marah Morrison -- The News-Herald)Expand Black Brook Golf Course Manager Tim Ausperk, PGA professional, has been at the course for the last 36 years. When Mentor purchased the course in 2005, the Chili Open commenced the second year the city owned the course, making this year its 20th year, he said. “The first year, it was run by us without any affiliation with any charities or anything,” Ausperk said. “The following year, we wanted to get a charity involved and try to draw a little more of a crowd for it, and get more participation. We got together with United Way and we share the proceeds. The entry fee’s $20 per person and then we split it.” United Way of Lake County volunteer staff serving up chili at the annual Lake County Chili Open at Black Brook Golf Course and Practice Center in Mentor. (Marah Morrison -- The News-Herald)United Way of Lake County volunteer staff serving up chili at the annual Lake County Chili Open at Black Brook Golf Course and Practice Center in Mentor. (Marah Morrison -- The News-Herald)Show Caption1 of 2United Way of Lake County volunteer staff serving up chili at the annual Lake County Chili Open at Black Brook Golf Course and Practice Center in Mentor. (Marah Morrison -- The News-Herald)Expand The United Way donates the chili, hot dogs and buns as part of the event, and Black Brook supplies the rest for the participants. Since the Chili Open’s beginnings, an average of between 150 and 200 people come out to golf in the snow, Ausperk said. “People enjoy doing it,” he said. “It’s something different to do and in the wintertime, they’re looking for fun things to do. We’ve done it in the snow I would say 19 of the 20 years. The times there wasn’t snow, we just played regular golf. When you think about it, it’s kind of intriguing. How does this work? We get a lot of questions about what we are doing.” The Chili Open does not involve playing the entire course, Ausperk said. Instead, the course is set up so that the holes are 65 yards long and players do not go on the greens. “We set up more in the fairways and in the roughs where the pins are,” he said. “We put a cone for the tee and then stick a flag in the ground about 65 yards away. When their ball comes within one club length of the flag, that’s good. Most of the holes — they’re making a two or a three and it’s a four-person scramble. Usually, a score of 18 or 19 is what wins it. We do have quite a few seniors who do it also and it’d be a little overbearing for them to walk the whole golf course in the snow.” Ausperk said many people who participate in the Chili Open for the first time keep returning to play. “They come one year, have a good time and then they want to bring friends the next year,” he said. “One of the groups today — I saw one name has three groups and it’s family, friends and neighborhood people who get together and play. They’ll have a ball.” Between the United Way volunteer staff and the golf course staff, the Chili Open is a steadily-run ship, Ausperk said. “We’re OK with how it’s run right now,” he said. “I see it staying well the way it is and the way it’s been running. We’ve got a good volunteer staff who helps us with our staff here.” ...read more read less