A unique blend of golf, gourmet food, and premium bourbon is teeing off for a good cause this May with the inaugural Birdies, Bourbon, and Barbecue golf scramble, benefitting the Fight Like a Dozer Foundation.
Set for May 9 at Owensboro Country Club, the event was spearheaded by local restaurateur Ben Skiadas, owner of Lure Seafood and Grille, after a conversation with Owensboro resident Tim Dozer. Dozer founded the Fight Like a Dozer nonprofit after his own son battled cancer at age 12. The organization pays rent or mortgage payments — no questions asked — for families facing the financial strain of a pediatric cancer diagnosis.
“I’ve been kicking around this idea for a while — nine holes of barbecue, nine holes of bourbon,” Skiadas said. “When Tim came into Lure and told me about his mission, it just clicked. This was the perfect way to get the word out and raise money for something meaningful.”
The event will feature an 18-hole golf scramble with a 9 a.m. shotgun start. Golfers will enjoy nine gourmet barbecue bites and nine bourbon samples throughout the course, along with games, live bluegrass music, and what Skiadas calls “entertaining hecklers.” All participants will receive a $100 raffle ticket and a single-barrel bottle from Western Kentucky Distillery.
The bourbon-infused menu includes items such as bourbon-glazed pork belly burnt ends, smoked bologna with pimento cheese, bacon-wrapped shrimp drizzled with hot honey, and a 3-day fried chicken leg tossed in spicy white BBQ sauce.
The $1,000 team entry fee — $250 per golfer — includes over $400 in value per person, including golf, food, bourbon, and raffle entry. Prizes and contests such as the “Mashbill Toss” and “Sink or Swim” will be held throughout the day. All proceeds stay local.
“We helped 74 families last year, and we’ve already helped three in Western Kentucky so far,” Dozer said. “We have no overhead, no employees — every dollar goes to the families.”
The festivities continue on May 10 at Lure with Pour It Forward, a charity evening starting at 5 p.m. There’s a $10 cover, and $1 from every drink will benefit Fight Like a Dozer. The event will feature a live auction of hand-painted Maker’s Mark bottles by local artist Aaron Kizer at 7 p.m., followed by a top-shelf raffle at 8 p.m. with prizes including a complete Pappy Van Winkle set, Double Eagle Rare 20-year, a full Weller lineup, ROMP tickets, and passes to the 2026 Bourbon Classic.
Fight Like a Dozer was founded more than a decade ago by Dozer after his middle son was diagnosed with cancer at age 12 while the family was living in central Ohio. At the time, Dozer’s mother — who was also battling cancer — lived with them. The support they received from their community inspired Dozer to give back.
“We started out just delivering smoothies, then asked, ‘What can we really do to help families?’” Dozer said. “The biggest bill most families face is the mortgage.”
The organization now helps working families by covering mortgage or rent payments for a minimum of three months, with no questions asked.
“We’ve found that middle-class families often get left behind,” Dozer said. “Most support programs ask how much money you made last year, and if you’ve got two working adults, you usually don’t qualify.”
In its first year, Fight Like a Dozer covered three mortgage payments. Last year, it provided 74. Since then, the nonprofit has helped families in seven states, with a focus on Western Kentucky, central Ohio, and northern Michigan.
“All the money we raise in Kentucky stays in Kentucky,” Dozer said.
To prevent fraud, the organization works directly with hospital social workers assigned to children undergoing cancer treatment. The application is one page and is submitted through the hospital. If approved, Fight Like a Dozer pays the mortgage company or landlord directly.
The organization has no employees, no office space, and no overhead costs.
“Our website is donated, we have no building, no cars — every dollar goes to the families,” Dozer said.
Dozer can be reached at [email protected], and more information is available at www.fightlikeadozer.org.
Skiadas said the event aligns perfectly with the city’s Barbecue & Barrels weekend and adds another layer of community involvement.
“This is about local businesses helping local families,” he said. “If you love bourbon, barbecue, and helping people, this is your event.”
Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available at fightlikeadozer.org/golf-outing. For more information, contact Skiadas at [email protected] or 270-314-4884.
