'Jingle Balls' time at Windermere

The office of Winderemere/Coeur d’Alene Realty is usually pretty serious, with lots of buying and selling going on. 

Not Thursday. 

It was all fun and games, literally, as it was transformed into a funhouse for golfers, with lots of laughs and smiles.

Hallways, stairways and rooms on three floors became putting greens with a holiday twist. These greens, created and sponsored by businesses including The Press and Seasons of Coeur d’Alene had Christmas trees, candy canes and reindeer. Golf balls zipped past grinches, climbed over snowbanks and rolled toward polar bears. 

One hole had a glittery disco ball hanging from the ceiling. Another was lined with wine bottles. A hole sponsored by Andy's Heating and Cooling saw a green sneaking under a stove. 

Some kept score and a toy donation earned a golfer a mulligan, thus explaining why a toy box was overflowing.  

All told, 72 people sent golf balls on their merry way in the first “Jingle Balls Down the Halls,” a fundraiser for Toys for Tots and the Windermere Foundation's Boots and Socks program. 

It raised around $12,000. Even better for the serious golfers, there were a few hole-in-ones. 

“I couldn’t be happier with the amount of community that came out today,” said Katie Jimenez, a bookkeeper with the real estate company and an event organizer. “It stems from the culture we have here at Windermere.” 

Tony Norris, Windermere real estate agent and another organizer, said he and others were sparked into action about three weeks ago when they heard Toys for Tots was down on donations, and they knew how many relied on the Boots and Socks program.

The response was more than expected as hole sponsors quickly signed on and teams formed for an afternoon with music, friends and spirits.

“It just kind of blew us away,” Jimenez said. 

Norris is already looking ahead to the 2025 Jingle Balls Down the Halls. 

“Next year we’re going to go bigger and better,” Norris said. 

Pat Krug, managing broker with Windermere/Coeur d’Alene Realty, was pleased that not only did their team members pick up their putters, but so did many others in the industry, including construction, banking and mortgage companies. 

“It shows all the camaraderie in the profession,” she said. “It’s people getting together, having fun, for a good cause.” 

    Those who helped organize "Jingle Balls Down the Halls" at Windermere/Coeur d'Alene Realty on Thursday include, from left, Jennifer Smock, Tony Norris, Katie Jimenez and Joel Greiner.