Divot Mix

Golf obviously provides one of our best forms of healthful exercise accompanied by good fellowship and companionship. –President Eisenhower, 1953

Patriot Golf Day raises more than $1.7 million

The second annual Patriot Golf Day, a nationwide campaign to support the families of those military veterans who have been disabled or lost their lives in the line of duty, has produced donations to date of more than $1.7 million.
 
The campaign, which benefits the Folds of Honor Foundation, is jointly supported by The PGA of America and the United States Golf Association.  Patriot Golf Day was conducted over the Labor Day weekend, Aug. 29 through Sept. 1, and received support from 3,800 golf facilities.

Patriot Golf Day was originated by Major Dan Rooney, an F-16 pilot, PGA Professional and USGA member from Broken Arrow, Okla., who this month returned from his third tour of duty in Iraq. The 2007 inaugural fundraising campaign produced funds of more than $1.1 million.

Rooney, who will receive the first PGA Patriot Award on Nov. 8 at The PGA of America's 92nd Annual Meeting in Phoenix, Ariz., served as an F-16 pilot in the 125th Fighter Squadron of the Oklahoma Air National Guard.

"Once again, America has come together for Patriot Golf Day, a campaign that is a perfect match for those who love both our country and the game of golf," said PGA of America President Brian Whitcomb. "Both PGA Professionals and amateur golfers responded with both innovative and inspiring fundraising efforts. The PGA of America is proud to be associated with this great cause and we anticipate that more Americans will step forward in the years to come."

In late 2007, Rooney developed the Folds of Honor Foundation to serve as a legacy foundation designed to provide scholarships for dependents and spouses of service members that have been killed or disabled as a result of their military service. While other fundraising is carried out by the Folds of Honor Foundation, Patriot Golf Day remains its primary fundraiser.

Donations to this year's Patriot Golf Day included $130,000 from Ryder Cup captain Paul Azinger and the 12 members of the victorious U.S. team.

This past spring, the Folds of Honor Foundation awarded nearly 200 scholarships to aid students, most of them beginning classes in the fall semester. Participating facilities are listed on www.PlayGolfAmerica.com. Individuals interested in contributing to the Folds of Honor Foundation, and those applying for scholarships should visit www.foldsofhonor.org.

Make a 2009 Green Chemistry Award nomination

The EPA is now accepting nominations for the 2009 Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards.  These awards recognize innovative chemical technologies that incorporate green chemistry into chemical design, manufacture and use, and that have broad applications in industry.

Nominated technologies should reduce or eliminate the use or generation of hazardous substances from a chemical product or process.  Any individual, group or organization, both nonprofit and for-profit, including academia and industry, may nominate a green chemistry technology for these awards.  Self-nominations are welcome and expected.

Typically, awards are given each year in five categories: Greener Synthetic Pathways; Greener Reaction Conditions; Designing Greener Chemicals; Small Business; and Academic.  Each nominated technology must have reached a significant milestone within the past five years in the United States.  Nominations must be sent no later than Dec. 31 to be eligible for the 2009 awards, which will be presented on June 22, 2009. 

For more information on applying for an award: http://www.epa.gov/greenchemistry/pubs/pgcc/howto.html.

GCSAA contributes to Special Olympics success

A field of 204 golfers from 24 U.S. Special Olympics programs participated in the ninth annual Special Olympics Golf National Invitational Tournament, Oct. 3-6 at the PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

For the fourth year, the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America served as a supporting sponsor of the event. GCSAA superintendent member John Lee, director of agronomy, and the rest of the PGA Golf Club staff hosted more than 500 athletes, family, friends, volunteers, local dignitaries and golf organization executives from across the country.

GCSAA is joined by the PGA of America, USGA, PGA Tour, and LPGA in supporting the Special Olympics golf program. With the support of golf's allied organizations, Special Olympics golf has grown to include some 17,000 athletes participating throughout North America and thousands more in 25 international programs.

The Special Olympics is just one of several national events that GCSAA supports in addition to the countless national, state and local activities in which its members participate to grow the game of golf and enhance the communities in which they live.
"GCSAA members are tireless in their commitment to the game and to helping others," GCSAA President David S. Downing II, CGCS, said. "Whether it is a charitable event at their facility, an activity in their community or coming together as a result of national disaster, GCSAA members are true leaders.

"Consider the thousands of golf events that are conducted to benefit others, from the professional tours to the local fundraisers. Then consider that every tournament has a superintendent and staff preparing the golf courses. The commitment is impressive. I appreciate and applaud all of those who give of their time."

In addition to the Special Olympics event, this year GCSAA provided support for the America Junior Golf Association’s Care Fore the Course program, Patriot Golf Day, Women’s Golf Month, Take Your Daughter to the Course Week and the National Alliance for Accessible Golf. It also contributed to other activities to enhance the game including the PGA National Minority Golf Championship, Play Golf America, The First Tee, and the USGA’s JuniorLinks Web site, among others.

2008 John Deere Classic Raises $4.79M for Charity

John Deere Classic officials have announced that the 2008 tournament helped raise $4.79 million for some 500 regional charities, an increase of almost $200,000 over last year.

"In a difficult economic environment, the John Deere Classic and its Birdies for Charity program are proud to have played a role in assisting 500 local and regional charities," said tournament director Clair Peterson. "As always, the generosity of the people and businesses of the Quad Cities and neighboring communities continues to be remarkable even in tough times."

Peterson noted this is the second consecutive year that charity donations exceeded the tournament purse of $4.2 million.

Peterson also praised tournament sponsor John Deere for its support of the tournament and for underwriting the administrative costs of the Birdies for Charity Program, which enables 100 percent of pledges to go to charity.

Under the Birdies program, donors typically pledge one cent for each birdie made during the tournament. In 2008, 1,921 birdies were recorded, meaning many donors wrote a check for $19.21 for the charity or charities to which they pledged. Many donors pledge to more than one charity. Others make lump sum pledges.

In addition to receiving the pledges collected on their behalf, each charity received a 10 percent bonus from the tournament on the first $100,000 raised. The tournament contributed $300,000 to the bonus fund.

The total of $4.79 million was up from $4.6 million the previous year, and the total translates to a per-capita contribution of $12.77 for every man, woman and child living the Quad Cities.

The John Deere Classic one of only a handful of Tour events to exceed $4 million in charity contributions and is easily the No. 1 tournament for per-capita giving among regular PGA Tour events.