The wind chill was in the single digits and snow covered the fairways and greens at Black Brook Golf Course in Mentor on Jan. 25. Not exactly ideal conditions for a round of golf, but good luck trying to tell that to the nearly 200 players who braved the elements to participate in the Lake County Chili Open. For those teeing it up at the 19th annual event, sponsored by the city of Mentor with proceeds benefiting the United Way of Lake County, it might as well have been Saturday at the Masters. A golfer at the Lake County Chili Open trades in a pull cart for a plastic sled as he heads with his group to the first hole at Black Brook Golf Course in Mentor on Jan. 25. (William Tilton – News-Herald) “I love to play golf, being with friends and of course it all goes for a good cause,” said Mentor resident Jeremy Grasgreen, who was part of a group that has several members that have been coming to the event for 15 years. “How often do you get a chance in the dead of winter to play golf? The weather is all part of the experience. You actually root for snow. It is a lot of fun.” Mentor resident Jeremy Grasgreen and his group wait to tee of at the first hole of the Lake County Chili Open at Black Brook Golf Course on Jan. 25. (William Tilton – News-Herald) Starting at 9 a.m., four-person teams played a scramble and had a sleeve of fluorescent orange balls provided by the course to show up easier in the snow. The nine holes played by each team were not actually shot on the Black Brook set up but rather marked by cones and averaging about 65 to 100 yards. Black Brook Head Golf Pro and Course Manager Tim Ausperk said he sees a lot of the same people each year and not just locals or club members with some coming from the west side of Cleveland or as far south as Solon. “A lot of the people that participate aren’t really golfers, they just like to have fun and support a good cause,” Ausperk said. “We have had snow on the ground 16 of 19 years and when we have multiple inches on the ground it seems like that is when the golfers have the most fun. We even played in a blizzard once.” Ausperk said many times it starts with someone inviting friends to play and they enjoy it and will return. He said he believes they are the only course to host this type of winter event. Golf was followed by a warm bowl of chili, hot dogs and hot chocolate. The cost to enter the Chili Open was $20, which included golf fees and food with proceeds benefiting the United Way of Lake County. Gift certificates for 18 holes were awarded to the three winning teams. Ausperk was not at all surprised at the turnout or the enthusiasm despite bitterly cold conditions. “I think once they play a hole, they get warm,” Ausperk said.