Offseason notes: Alumni golf tournament, Texas Hold ‘em poker

Baseball season is over, but the fundraising continues…

Now that the weather has cooled off to more tolerable temperatures, spending the day outside — especially a work day — seems like a pretty good idea. Just ask Larry Dierker and his gang, many of whom will gather at Wildcat Golf Club on Wednesday, Nov. 9 for 18 holes of rip-roaring fun during the annual Astros Alumni Golf Tournament.

This tournament, benefiting the Urban Youth Academy through the Astros In Action Foundation, is always a big draw for past players — a reunion of sorts that usually draws a couple dozen pretty recognizable faces from some of the more well-known teams from the past. Consider this an informal kickoff of the 50th anniversary celebration that will carry through the end of the 2012 season.

Larry Dierker and Enos Cabell (left) are regulars at the annual Alumni Golf Tournament.

The event begins at 9:30 a.m. with registration and breakfast, followed by a shotgun start at 11 a.m. The luncheon and awards portion of the day will take place around 3:30 p.m.

For more information about the tournament and instructions how to register, click here.

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Two days after the Astros’ season ended, three players stuck around to participate in an All-Star Texas Hold ‘em Poker tournament, benefiting the Houston Area Women’s Center.

Mark Melancon, Bud Norris and Angel Sanchez served as celebrity players, in addition to professional poker player Katie Stone, who grew up in Houston and plays all over the world with the European Poker Tour, the World Poker Tour and the World Series of Poker.

The two-hour event, first introduced at the Wives’ Gala and held at DelFrisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse, raised around $9,000 for the Women’s Center.

Check out Melancon with his shades and fancy hat…maybe fatherhood is bringing out a new side to him?