Southwest Section PGA Beats PGA Mexico in Historic “Uniting Nations Cup” 56-44

 

Event Fosters Comraderie on Both Sides

Photos from Uniting Nations Cup

Final Results

 (Scottsdale, Ariz.) May 21, 2011 —For the first time in the history of Mexican sports, an international golf tournament took place between Mexico and the United States under a Ryder Cup format at Peninsula de Cortes Golf Course at the Mayan Palace in Puerto Peñasco, Sonora, Mexico May 12-15, 2011.

      

Opening Ceremony

  The U.S.team, captained by Scottsdale’s Vito Berlingeri, who was also the tournament director along with Andrew Gilchrist of the Peninsula De Cortes Golf Course, emerged with a 56-44 win, but the competition was about more than golf. “The event exceeded our expectations,” Berlingeri said. “All of the matches were very close and our amateurs played their hearts out. We won the overall matches in terms of points, but the most important thing was that golf brought the two countries together and so many new friendships were formed. There were a lot of emotional moments.”

     The objective of the Uniting Nations Cup was to promote friendship, commercial and cultural relations between the two countries. It succeeded because of the people involved. “We utilized golf as an ambassador,” Berlingeri said. “What developed was way beyond our expectations. Golf brought the two countries together.” Guillermo Padres Elias, Governor of Sonora, and Bob Walkup, Mayor of Tucson, attended the opening ceremonies.

Ten Southwest Section PGA Professionals competed against 10 Mexican PGA Professionals, along with 40 amateurs selected by the golf organizations of both countries. The Americans won the individual matches 26-24, the Four Ball matches 14.5 to 10.5, and the Foursome matches 15.5 to 9.5.

The event was the brainchild of Andrew Gilchrist, the tournament host and director of golf at Peninsula De Cortes Golf Course, and Berlingeri, who is also the marketing director of the Southwest Section PGA.  Berlingeri said the Inaugural Uniting Nations Cup will promote goodwill between the two countries for a long time. “We will make this an annual event and utilize the game of golf to continue to strengthen our relationships,” he said. “We expect it to be bigger and better next year.”

Among the PGA Professionals the SWSPGA invited were Don Yrene, director of golf at The Golf Club Scottsdale and five-time Southwest Section PGA Player of the Year, Brandon Smith, head golf professional at Ventana Canyon Golf & Racquet Club in Tucson.  Mike Wright, former president of the Southwest Section PGA and director of instruction at Superstition Springs Golf Club in Mesa; Rich Elias, Head Professional Canoa Ranch,; Greg Avant, Director of Golf at Lone Tree Golf Club in Chandler;  Bob Pancratz, Life Member PGA; Blayne Hobbs, Lead Instructor, Reid/West Golf Academy; Jon Chaffee, Lead Instructor Talking Stick GC,  Jeff Yurkiewicz, Lead Instructor Grayhawk, and Mike Malaska, Director Of Instructor Superstition Mountain.

Vito Berlingeri, captain of the winning U.S. team.

 

 

Website for host facility: http://www.mayanpalace.com.mx; PGA Mexico: http://www.pgam.com.mx/

To view pictures of the event go to: http://flickr.com/photos/swspga

 

 

 

 

Byrum Poised to Repeat as Arizona Open Champion

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Curt Byrum is on track to repeat as champion of the 66th Arizona Open Championship at Desert Mountain Golf Club, but has plenty of company on the leader board, including two former Arizona State golfers and a pair of talented amateurs.

 Byrum, 51, shot 67 Friday on the Apache Course to maintain the lead in the second round of the 54-hole event at 14-under 130. Former ASU golfer Braxton Marquez matched Byrum’s score, leaving him 2 shots behind, and another former Sun Devil, Kendall Critchfield, is 3 shots back after a 69.

 “I’ve been able to hit fairways, but most importantly, my putting has been really good,” Byrum said. “That has surprised me because I haven’t been playing much golf. Today, I had one bad swing, which probably was the only bad swing all week, and it cost me a couple shots.”

   Byrum, a Golf Channel analyst and former PGA Tour winner, played the back nine first. After making the turn, he knocked in birdies on holes 1, 2, 3 and 5, but took a double bogey on the par-4 sixth when an errant shot disappeared into the desert. It was the only hole out of 36 where Byrum has failed to make par or better.

    Byrum and Critchfield both made the turn at 12-under but Critchfield played his back nine in 1-over to fall 3 shots back. Austyn Karle, a Desert Mountain member and Pepperdine golfer, shot 65 and Tucson amateur David McDaniel carded a 64, leaving them 4 shots behind.

    Marquez, 22, recently turned pro after completing his ASU career, and plans to enter PGA Tour Qualifying School this fall. He made news in February when he Monday-qualified for the Waste Management Phoenix Open and made the cut.

    He gained national attention when stories emerged about his involvement with the Phoenix Open as a kid, working at the famous par-3 16th hole and helping his late father, who had catered tournament skyboxes for several years.

   Byrum knows Marquez well, but for other reasons.

    “He and my son attended the same high school,” Byrum said. “From all that I can see he is really a fine young man and he has shown that he knows how to play this game.”

    While Byrum has made it look easy the past two years, the Apache Course has not been a pushover, as the cut came at 3-over 147. Others within striking distance include Don Yrene, Brett Guetz, Mike Ferris, Brady Stockton and Craig Hocknull, all at 7-under 137.

    Byrum said he will need to keep up his solid putting to prevail in the event sanctioned by the Southwest Section of the PGA. The tournament offers a $50,000 purse, with a winner’s share of $6,500.

    “You obviously need to keep making putts in order to keep making birdies, and you probably can’t win it if you don’t,” Byrum said. “Unless the wind really blows, and I don’t think that’s in the forecast, I would expect to have to shoot some pretty good numbers in the final round. So that’s the goal, to shoot as low as I possibly can and hope that it’s good enough against some good young players.”

 

Par and Total Yardage By Division
Desert Mountain- Apache(Par: 72 Distance: 7211) 

============================================================
Results for contest Arizona Open:
============================================================
 1    Curt Byrum           Scottsdale, AZ        63-67--130 -14 
 2    Braxton Marquez      Scottsdale, AZ        65-67--132 -12 
 T3   Kendall Critchfield  Tempe, AZ             64-69--133 -11 
 T3   Austyn Karle (A)     Scottsdale, AZ        68-65--133 -11 
 5    David McDaniel (A)   Tucson, AZ            70-64--134 -10 
 T6   Don Yrene            Scottsdale, AZ        71-66--137 -7  
 T6   Brett Guetz          Scottsdale, AZ        68-69--137 -7  
 T6   Mike Ferris          Scottsdale, AZ        71-66--137 -7  
 T6   Brady Stockton       Cave Creek, AZ        66-71--137 -7  
 T6   Craig Hocknull       Gilbert, AZ           70-67--137 -7  
 T11  Ron Schroeder        Montgomery, TX        69-69--138 -6  
 T11  Boyd Summerhays      Scottsdale, AZ        67-71--138 -6  
 T13  Paul Trittler        Scottsdale, AZ        66-73--139 -5  
 T13  Nick Obie            Scottsdale, AZ        68-71--139 -5  
 T13  David Dragoo         Scottsdale, AZ        67-72--139 -5  
 T13  Tim McKenney         Scottsdale, AZ        69-70--139 -5  
 T13  Joseph Penaflor      Phoenix, AZ           71-68--139 -5  
 T13  Aaron Weston         Scottsdale, AZ        68-71--139 -5  
 T19  Tommy Medina         Mesa, AZ              70-70--140 -4  
 T19  Thomas Buran (A)     Scottsdale, AZ        69-71--140 -4  
 T19  Barry Conser         Phoenix, AZ           71-69--140 -4  
 T19  Scott Frisch         Scottsdale, AZ        68-72--140 -4  
 T23  Dean Vomacka         Phoenix, AZ           71-70--141 -3  
 T23  Colter Kautzmann     Litchfield Park, AZ   73-68--141 -3  
 T23  Rodney Hamblin       Phoenix, AZ           70-71--141 -3  
 T23  Casey Bourque        Phoenix, AZ           71-70--141 -3  
 T23  Greg Bruckner        Phoenix, AZ           70-71--141 -3  
 T28  Don Littrell         Tucson, AZ            70-72--142 -2  
 T28  Blayne Hobbs         Anthem, AZ            68-74--142 -2  
 T28  Eric Johnson         Chandler, AZ          69-73--142 -2  
 T28  Jeremy DeFalco (A)   Tucson, AZ            71-71--142 -2  
 T28  Dale Abraham         Phoenix, AZ           72-70--142 -2  
 T33  Jason Magee          Phoenix, AZ           70-73--143 -1  
 T33  Stephen Conrad       Phoenix, AZ           71-72--143 -1  
 T33  Bobby Pancratz       Chandler, AZ          72-71--143 -1  
 T33  Patrick Jenkins Jr   Chandler, AZ          73-70--143 -1  
 T33  Benoit Beisser       Scottsdale, AZ        71-72--143 -1  
 T38  Justin Searles       Gilbert, AZ           74-70--144 E   
 T38  Jeff Yurkiewicz      Phoenix, AZ           73-71--144 E   
 T38  Mike Franko          Scottsdale, AZ        72-72--144 E   
 T38  Bob Pancratz         Chandler, AZ          73-71--144 E   
 T38  Brady Exber (A)      Las Vegas, NV         73-71--144 E   
 T38  Mike Nicolette       Scottsdale, AZ        74-70--144 E   
 T38  Randy Wittig         Cave Creek, AZ        71-73--144 E   
 T45  Wade Dunagan         Tucson, AZ            73-72--145 +1  
 T45  Dalen Linnerson      Tempe, AZ             75-70--145 +1  
 T45  Scott Foster         Anthem, AZ            73-72--145 +1  
 T48  Darren Fletcher      Cave Creek, AZ        73-73--146 +2  
 T48  Ron Stelten          Palm Desert, CA       75-71--146 +2  
 T48  Jeff Nichols         Mesa, AZ              67-79--146 +2  
 T51  Khris Niess          Scottsdale, AZ        71-76--147 +3  
 T51  Ralph West           Avondale, AZ          74-73--147 +3  
 T51  David Shearer        Peoria, AZ            73-74--147 +3  
 T51  Chris Dompier        Tucson, AZ            72-75--147 +3  
 T51  Chris Hantla         Chandler, AZ          74-73--147 +3  
 T51  Jimmy Kozikowski (A) Mesa, AZ              72-75--147 +3  
 T51  Chris Endres         Anthem, AZ            75-72--147 +3  
 T51  Brant Kummerfeld     Phoenix, AZ           72-75--147 +3  
 T51  Danny Edwards        Scottsdale, AZ        70-77--147 +3  
 T51  Brent Griffin        Phoenix, AZ           75-72--147 +3  
 T51  Mark Coward          Mesa, AZ              73-74--147 +3

Southwest Section PGA Names George Boutell 2009 Anser Award Winner

(Scottsdale, Ariz.) June 7, 2010 — The Southwest Section PGA announced today at its annual meeting that George Boutell, 66, has been named the recipient of the 2009 Anser Award. The prestigious honor, since 1991, has honored an individual “…whose positive efforts influenced the history of golf in Arizona.”

The award was established in 1990 by the Southwest Section PGA, in honor of Karsten Solheim, and named after his famous PING Anser putter.

 “I’m honored to be in the company of previous Anser winners,” Boutell said. “They made it possible for me and others to progress in golf.”

 Originally from Minneapolis, Boutell was a top amateur golfer, a successful college player at Arizona State University and an accomplished coach at his alma mater.  A member of Phoenix Country Club since 1950, he’s also been a resident of either Phoenix or Scottsdale for the last 60 years.

He played on the PGA TOUR for five years and worked for the PGA TOUR from 1987 to 2007 as a revered PGA TOUR Rules Official (see article by David Feherty below).

Boutell said he made decent money in local events and had a career best 6th place finish on TOUR, but his last position was what defined him. “That was the job I felt I was made to do,” he said. “It allowed me to make friends all over the world.”

 A 1981 inductee into the ASU Hall of Fame, Boutell is also a 2000 Arizona Golf Hall of Fame inductee.

 A PRODIGY AT AN EARLY AGE

In 1958, at age 14, and a sophomore at Central Phoenix High School, Boutell was the youngest competitor to qualify for U.S. Amateur Championship at the Olympic Club. In 1961, Boutell won the Arizona State High School championship and led Central Phoenix High to the team championship as well.

In 1962, he won the Southwest Amateur and the Arizona Amateur Championship.  The winner of the 1965 Trans-Mississippi Championship and 1965 Eastern Amateur, he was runner-up in the Western Amateur that year.  Boutell was only 21 when won the Trans-Miss, a national match play tournament held that year at Kansas City Country Club. “It might have been my best win because I beat the entire Oklahoma State golf team,” he said. “I beat all their studs.”

 In 1966, Boutell was named the No. 1 “Amateur golfer in the United States by Golf Digest and Golf World magazines. He was an All-American golfer at ASU and the Phoenix Press Box Association, the predecessor of the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame, voted him into its Hall of Fame.

 

 WORKING 80 HOURS PER WEEK, 12 MONTHS PER YEAR

After college Boutell played the PGA TOUR from 1968-1973. He worked as an Assistant Professional 

for the legendary Arch Watkins, the 1995 Anser Award winner, at Papago Golf Course in Phoenix from 1973 to 1975. He returned to Arizona State in 1975 to become the men’s golf coach until 1986. Under his direction, the Sun Devils won the Western Athletic Conference Championship in 1978. In 1979, the men’s team won ASU’s first Pac-10 Conference Championship in any sport. The Sun Devils later won the Pac-10 Championship in 1981.

Boutell’s ASU teams finished third in the NCAA Championship in 1977, 1978 and 1982. He was named Pac-10 “Coach of the Year” in 1979 and 1981. “The most rewarding and difficult job I had was at ASU,” he said. “I was working 80 hours a week, 12 months a year and making $14,000.”                                    

During a 45-year career, Boutell spent most of it traveling. “For 31 straight years I was out of town, on average, 220 days,” he said. “But the quality of the people I was lucky enough to be associated with made it worthwhile.” 

On November 19, 1962 Boutell appeared in Sports Illustrated’s Faces in the Crowd for the second time. “George Boutell, 18, a growing golfer who gulps milkshakes between rounds for energy, finished a fine season—Southwestern titlist and low amateur in two PGA events—by beating an experienced field in Scottsdale for the Arizona amateur title,” the magazine said.

Boutell has been mentioned in numerous publications over the years by various golf writers, including by Jamie Diaz in the New York Times in 1991 (see article below). Boutell, using a television replay, interceded on a judgment call that affected Tom Kite. “After the Kite incident,” Boutell said, “the TOUR realized that it was placing too much scrutiny on the players being televised. The television monitoring fortunately was stopped. My part in that was only that I was assigned the monitoring duty on that day.”

“ANSER” AWARD WINNERS

1991                       Karsten Solheim

1992                       Bob Goldwater. Sr.

1993                       Bill Farkas, Sr.

1994                       Ed Updegraff

1995                       Arch Watkins

1996                       Harry Cavanaugh

1997                       John Riggle

1998                       Lyle Anderson

1999                       Linda Vollstedt

2000                       Bill Dickey

2001                       Thunderbirds

2002                       Sister Lynn Winsor

2003                       Jay D. Woodward

2004                       Willie Low

2005                       V.O. “Red” Allen

2006                       Al Birmingham

2007                       Louise Solheim

2008                       Heather Farr

2009                       George Boutell

George was the Gretzky of rulings, the Federer of the fairways

http://www.golf.com/golf/tours_news/article/0,28136,1660828,00.html

I’ve said this before, but the Rules officials on the PGA Tour are tops. The reason I’m reiterating this is that earlier this year George Boutell, one of the best, drove his cart into the sunset with nothing more than a sly wave goodbye.

George was the grandmaster whom apprentices approached with reverence in the hope of gathering a rare crumb of knowledge (or doughnut) that occasionally fell from the box of Krispy Kremes he would freebase in a shady spot near the port-o-lets. Yes, I’m talking about a man who once had a pizza delivered to his cart at a PGA Tour event.

When a player called for a ruling it was a joy to watch George transition from what seemed like a nursing home coma into a regimentally upright, razor-sharp, starched-white, creaseless, athletic ruling machine.

George was the Gretzky of rulings, the Federer of the fairways, usually invisible, yet always in the right place. I knew of only one man with a similar style, a guy named Jimmy Hemphill, from my early playing days on the Sunshine Tour in South Africa. One day in Pretoria I was paired with Nick Price and called for a ruling because I thought my ball might be embedded. As usual Jimmy was there, faster than a flick of a springbok’s tail.

“What’s the problem?” he asked.

“Well, Jimmy,” I said, trying to keep a straight face as the idiot Price slapped the bark of a nearby gum tree. “We think my ball may be embedded here, but we’re not sure.”

“Where is it?”

“Uh, I believe you just parked your cart on it,” I said, pointing to his front left wheel.

Jimmy looked down at the spot, then said indignantly, “Well then, it was a bloody waste of time calling me, wasn’t it? Obviously it’s a free drop.” And with that, he sped off.

To the best of my knowledge, George never parked on anyone’s ball. He applied the Rules to the letter of the law, performing his primary function (which was to protect the interests of the rest of the field), while leaving enough room for common sense and compassion. If there was any doubt he always leaned in favor of the player. He was a grumpy sonofabitch with a legendary hemorrhoid problem. Even if you got him during one of his bouts of pink balloon knots, you knew you’d get a fair shake, even if it did include a graphic description of the current state of his nethermost regions.

When George got himself a little cancer, that merriment was briefly halted. Within weeks, George had a few feet of bowel removed and was back at work, claiming that the only difference was that his farts were now a slightly higher F-sharp.

One reason George retired early was his compassion for the people who sat beside him in coach after a week of dealing with prima donnas who wanted drops from lies where the grass wasn’t growing in the right direction, viewers calling in with idiotic rulings, missing and presumed stolen courtesy cars, and frequent cavity searches at airport security.

After years of being seated next to hideously cheerful “Isn’t flying fun? What do you do for a living?” nimrods, he knew that eventually he was going to kill and eat one of them. In an age during which professional golf is rolling in cash, Rules officials still have to fly in the back of the airplane.

The Tour is lucky to have such great officials. Despite having recently signed a new five-year deal, they are still underpaid and overworked. Now it seems the ones with the most experience are becoming an endangered species.

It would be easy to go the Al Gore route and blame it on greenhouse gases, to which George contributed more than his fair share over the years, but it is a problem much easier solved. This column should tell readers I really miss him. His departure should tell the Tour they need to look around the world of sports (see the NBA), realize what they’ve got, pay up, and look happy about doing it.

 ON GOLF

ON GOLF; Golf on TV? Certainly. Television in Golf? No.

By Jaime Diaz
Published: May 10, 1991

Golf has always been proud of its fierce adherence to its rules, but last Sunday in the final round of the GTE Byron Nelson Classic, it adhered so fiercely it impugned the integrity of one of its most respected players.

For the first time, the PGA Tour used a television replay to overrule a player’s decision. But the fact that the replay was used to assist in a judgment call and the player was the tour’s career leading money winner, Tom Kite, made the incident one that might bring a quick end to golf’s experiment with video-enhanced rulings.

The use of instant replay on the PGA Tour began in March after a television viewer in Colorado reported a rules violation that ultimately caused Paul Azinger to be disqualified from the Doral Ryder Open. As a result, for the last several tournaments, the tour has placed an official in a TV trailer to monitor rules infractions.

Because the tour has no reason to believe that large groups of players are breaking rules or intentionally cheating, the main intention of the viewing official is to inform players of problems before it is too late. For example, had a rules official been able to inform Azinger of his penalty before he signed his scorecard, Azinger would have been forced to add two strokes to his score for that day, but he would not have been disqualified for signing an incorrect scorecard.

But on Sunday, the official in the trailer, former touring pro George Boutell, interceded on a judgment call, not a potential rules violation. In other words, had Boutell not provided information that caused Kite to be overruled, Kite still would not have broken a rule.

The disputed incident took place when Kite hooked his tee shot on the 11th hole into a lake. Both Kite and his playing partner, Phil Blackmar, who in effect was representing the rest of the players in the tournament, agreed that the ball had passed over a point of land before landing in the hazard. Based on that agreement, Kite was entitled to a penalty drop on that point of land.

But Boutell, looking at a videotape of the shot and familiar with the 11th hole, thought Kite’s ball could not have crossed the point of land. Instead, he thought Kite should play his next shot from the same tee. Boutell contacted Mike Shea, the tour’s tournament director, who was on the course. After arriving at the 11th hole, Shea told Kite of Boutell’s opinion.

Kite disagreed, and played two balls. On the ball played from the point of land near the lake, Kite made a five. On the ball played from the tee, he made a double-bogey six. After watching the video replay of Kite’s original shot, Shea ruled that the double bogey would count.

After the round, Kite was upset that his judgment had been questioned.

“TV has no business doing what they are doing, making a ruling from an official watching TV in a trailer,” said Kite, the third-round leader who shot a final-round 75 to finish tied for eighth. “I don’t understand why we are using it.” Kite will undoubtedly make sure his opinion is represented when the tour’s policy board reviews the use of instant replay in June.

From a purist perspective, the use of instant replay is consistent with golf’s code of ethics. Unlike other sports, where athletes often take a roguish pride in undetected holding, scuffed baseballs and the like, golf expects its professionals to call penalties on themselves and their playing partners whenever they see an infraction.

Some might feel the use of television replays are unfair because generally only players in contention get on camera. But even Azinger had no argument with being reported by a television viewer because, finally, he violated a rule. As Shea said, “We’ve always taken all the information we could on a potential rules violation.”

Some wondered, however, whether the Azinger incident has made the tour anxious to demonstrate to any skeptics that it has a close eye on any possibility of cheating, and that it doesn’t need television viewers to tell its players and officials when a rule has been broken or even bent.

“No, this was an individual case,” said Sid Wilson, PGA Tour director of public relations. “We are not trying to pound our chest and say how honest we are. There have been too many instances over the years of players calling penalties on themselves for us to be worried about that. Integrity among our players is not a problem.”

If that’s the case, instant replay or no, the tour ought to leave the judgment calls to the players.

Swing Fore Kids Golf Classic April 30 at Grayhawk

By John Davis

Scottsdale, Ariz. (April 17, 2010)  Executive director Curt Hudek is among those who have seen firsthand the impact that four-legged friends can have on hospitalized children, and is delighted that the Southwest Section of the PGA of America continues to endorse the signature fundraiser that drives the program.The Swing Fore Kids Golf Classic was founded four years ago by a Scottsdale boy, who was just 12 years old at the time, and has become the primary fundraiser for the Animal-Assisted Therapy Program at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. That program isn’t funded by the hospital and must rely on special events like the Swing Fore Kids tournament and support from companies and organizations like the SWSPGA. 

         Since its inception, the tournament has generated more than $250,000 for the program. Founder Michael Young, who is now 16 and a high school golfer, said he is proud to see the event’s success. Arizona Cardinals players Larry Fitzgerald and Neil Rackers have become involved and the Phoenix Coyotes also have shown support.

    “It really has emerged into something that is recognized around the community as a first-class event,” said Michael, who is a junior at Phoenix Country Day School. “For me, it’s a great feeling to be able to develop something that helps so many children in the Phoenix area. It’s nice to know that I am having a direct impact every day.”

     This year’s tournament for the first time will be played at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, with an 8 a.m. shotgun start.

     This marks the third consecutive year that the SWSPGA has endorsed the tournament and over the years the Section has supported the Phoenix Children’s Hospital Foundation with several large donations.

Golf Day is big hit

In addition, the SWSPGA annually hosts a Golf Day at the hospital. Hudek was among the staff members who attended this year’s on April 8, along with certified teaching pros, who gave children pointers on makeshift putting greens and a hitting net. Patients also can invite siblings or other family members to get tips from the pros, and all of the dogs from the therapy program are on hand, giving patients plenty of furry friends to brighten their day.

Jacky Falchook-Young and Michael Young at "Golf Day" on April 8, 2010 at Phoenix Children's Hospital.

     “The people from the Southwest PGA have really gotten involved,” Michael said. “You can tell how much they love it and look forward to it each year.”

     Petsmart is the title sponsor of the tournament and CB Richard Ellis brokerage firm has been one of its major sponsors since the event was created. Avnet recently donated in-kind services with professional videos that will help promote the Swing Fore Kids tournament and the animal-therapy program.

Dogs can heel and heal

 When Michael founded his tournament, there were 22 dogs in the therapy program. Now there are 40 and an escort program has been created, allowing more handlers to make more visits and lift kids’ spirits. Doctors, nurses and therapists also have gained an education about the impact the dogs can have, and now request animal visits as part of their patients’ care.

     Specific benefits include motivating children to: Get up, move, walk, leave their rooms and play; participate in therapy programs; forget about their discomfort and pain;  improve their mood and interaction with others; do things that have become a struggle, such as eating and taking medication.

Golden Retrievers make ideal therapy dogs. Photo by Vito Berlingeri.

The funding challenge

     Michael’s mother, Jacky Falchook-Young, said a downturn in the economy last year added to the challenge in securing sponsors but that Michael has persisted by pursuing other avenues of support.

    “Michael has had to broaden his horizons,” Jacky said. “This is something he takes very seriously and he takes responsibility for its success.

    “He’s really into it because he sees what it does for the kids. He recognizes the importance of what he’s doing and wants to continue helping others throughout his life. His experiences have been pretty amazing, both in seeing the impact and interacting with people he’s met along the way.”

    Last year, Michael helped bridge the gap by securing a “cook and dine” evening with Cardinals All-Pro wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, which brought a bid of $6,500.

    Michael, who first began meeting with company CEOs at age 12 in search of funds to help kids, has seen his perseverance pay off.

    “With the current economy, I understand that people need to watch what they’re spending and donating, so it has become more of a challenge,” Michael said. “But I’m proud to say we’re still able to put on the tournament and make a difference in kids’ lives.”

 Swing Fore Kids Golf Classic 

WHEN: Friday, April 30, 2010. 7 a.m. registration, 8 a.m. shotgun start.

WHERE: Grayhawk Golf Club, 8620 East Thompson Peak Parkway, Scottsdale.

REGISTRATION FEE: $275 Includes: Continental Breakfast, Tee-Gift, Golf, Lunch, Silent Auction, Awards.

INFO: ‘Fore’ more information, including online registration forms, visit www.cbre.com/swingforekidsgolfclassic.

QUESTIONS? Contact Jacky Falchook-Young at (602) 469-5666 or swingforekids@cox.net.

Curt Hudek, executive director of the SWSPGA was on hand to give golf lessons at the Animal Assisted Therapy event this month at Phoenix Children's Hospital. Photo by Vito Berlingeri.

Southwest Section PGA Donates $3,000 to Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

 PHOENIX, Arizona – The Southwest Section of the PGA of America has taken another step towards helping children with serious health concerns by making a recent donation of $3,000 to JDRF – the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

The SWSPGA Foundation presented the Juvenile Diabetes Reseacrh Foundation Chapter of AZ with a check for $3000.00 which will be used to hopefully one day find a cure for Diabetes. In the picture is Sheila Peterson PGA - Vito Berlingeri Marketing Director, Laura Rivers Dr. Special Events-Marketing, Becky Jackson ED/CEO and office personnel from the JDRF

JDRF is recognized as the leading charitable funder and advocate of type 1 (juvenile) diabetes research worldwide.  Its Desert Southwest Chapter, which is based in Phoenix and has branch offices in Tucson and Albuquerque, N.M., annually raises more than $6 million to benefit diabetes research. The SWSPGA now can add its name to the list of donors.

“JDRF is so appreciative of the PGA’s contribution and support of our organization,” said Becky Jackson, executive director of the Desert Southwest Chapter. “The commitment of community partners such as the Southwest Section PGA will help us on our continued mission to find a cure for type 1 diabetes.”

The Chapter annually stages several events that benefit research, including charity golf tournaments. One of those, the Fifth Annual Tee Up to Cure Diabetes tournament, will be played June 4 at La Paloma Country Club in Tucson. There also are five charity walks scheduled this year, including those in Glendale, Tempe, and Tucson.

A new event, the Michael Allen Celebrity Pro-Am, hosted by PGA and Champions Tour pro Michael Allen, will be played Oct. 18 at Dove Valley Ranch Golf Club in Cave Creek.

Type 1 diabetes is a serious illness that often requires treatment far beyond daily insulin injections. It can lead to eye disease, nerve damage, kidney disease, heart disease and stroke. A significant part of JDRF’s research is focused on understanding how diabetes causes complications, and developing drugs, treatments, and therapies to stop that process or reverse the impact of various complications.

Spokesperson Katie Stringham said type 1 diabetes, which often is hereditary and is more common in children, is sometimes misunderstood and confused with type 2 diabetes, which can be the result of weight gain and sedentary lifestyle.

“There is a lot of confusion about the two types and that can be a little frustrating sometimes,” Stringham said. “Type 2 has gotten a lot of attention lately because it has become an epidemic. We’re dealing with kids who inherited the problem. This didn’t happen to them because of diet or lifestyle. We struggle with the general public in that regard, and we do have an education and outreach program that is important in getting our message out there.”

JDRF’s stated mission is: To find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research. Much of its staff is voluntary and it depends largely on donations like those from the SWSPGA.

For more information about JDRF, effects of diabetes, and fund-raising activities, visit www.jdrfdsw.org or call (602) 224-1800.

Noteworthy: For the second consecutive year, the Charity Navigator, the largest online watchdog of charities in the United States, has given JDRF its highest rating of 4 stars.  In making the announcement, Charity Navigator noted that less than a third of the non-profit organizations it rates receives a 4-star rating for even one year, and that two consecutive years of 4-stars “sets JDRF apart from its peers and demonstrates to the public it is worthy of their trust.” Charity Navigator bases its ratings on statistical formula that looks at a charity’s efficiency and fiscal management.

 

Ernie Els honored with GWAA’s Bartlett Award

HOUSTON (March 1, 2010) – Three-time major champion Ernie Els, whose commitment to charitable giving began in 1999 and is embodied in his youth foundation South Africa,  the Els for Austim Foundation and the Els Center for Excellence, has been honored with the Golf Writers Association of America’s Charlie Bartlett Award.
 
The 40-year-old Els has been a passionate advocate for autism since his son Ben, now 7, was diagnosed four years ago. He and wife Liezl founded the Els Autism Foundation in 2009 and are now undertaking a capital campaign to raise $30 million for the Center for  Excellence. The center will be the first of its kind in the world, combining cutting-edge education, therapy and research for children in the autism spectrum.
 
The campus will have a global outreach through its digital learning program which will allow professionals and those families with ASD around the world to access the Center.
 
The award, named for the first secretary of the GWAA, is given to a professional golfer for his/her unselfish contributions to the betterment of society. Els will be honored at the GWAA Annual Awards Dinner April 7 in Augusta, Ga.
 
Els has said, “The mark of a true man is not what he takes in life, but what he gives back.”
 
 He began his work in his native South Africa in 1999 with the Els Foundation which assists young golfers from families of limited resources with education and playing opportunities. The foundation joined forces with the Fancourt Foundation in 2006.
 
Since Ben’s diagnosis at the age of 3, Els has provided awareness for the developmental disorder. In a current public service announcement, he notes the odds of winning the U.S. Open twice, which he did, are 1 in 1.2 billion. The odds of being diagnosed with autism is 1 in 110.
 
The  Center, which will be in Palm Beach County, Fla., will also offer a services program to help students transition to college and adult life.
 
In following Tiger Woods (2007), Greg Norman (2008) and Jack Nicklaus (2009) in receiving the Bartlett Award, former GWAA President and chairman of the Bartlett committee Tim Rosaforte said Els “epitomizes the spirit of the award” and the work being done by professional golfers toward the betterment of society.
 
Other former Bartlett winners include the Louisiana trio of Hal Sutton, David Toms and Kelly Gibson, Val Skinner, Betsy King, Tom Watson, Payne Stewart, Tom Lehman, Arnold Palmer, Kenny Perry, Brad Faxon and Billy Andrade, Patty Berg and Andy North.
 
The GWAA will also honor Players of Year Tiger Woods, Jiyai Shin and Loren Roberts,  Ben Hogan Award winners Ken Green and Tom Watson, Jim Murray/ASAP Award winner Padraig Harrington and Pete Dye, winner of the William D. Richardson Award, at the dinner.
 
The 940-member professional organization takes an active role in protecting the interests of all golf journalists, works closely with all of golf’s major governing bodies and the World Golf Hall of Fame and facilitates a scholarship/internship program which is currently helping students at six major U.S. universities.

PGA PLAY GOLF AMERICA DAY MARCH 21 IN SCOTTSDALE

Free golf activities will include on-site instruction from more than 20 area PGA Professionals

Scottsdale, Arizona – A fun-filled day of free golf activities will be held during PGA Play Golf America Day at the McCormick Ranch Golf Club in Scottsdale, on Sunday March 21, 2010. Created to showcase the game of golf in a fun and relaxed atmosphere, PGA Play Golf America Day is presented by The PGA of America with presenting sponsors American Express and The Royal Bank of Scotland.

The PGA Play Golf America Day at McCormick Ranch will run from 8 AM – 1 PM.  The event is designed to provide free expert instruction to golfers of all ages and skill levels, introduce new golfers to the game and provide equipment testing from the best brands in golf today.

 Highlighting the day will be free instruction and golf clinics conducted by more than 20 PGA Professionals from throughout the Southwest Section of the PGA, including First Swing Clinics for beginners and more.  These golf professionals will also provide 10-minute tune-ups, and conduct demonstrations on all facets of the game regardless of skill level.

Several of the golf industry’s leading equipment manufacturers, including Adams, Bridgestone, Cobra, Callaway, Nike, Ping, Taylor Made, Titleist and more, will also be on-site to provide hands-on testing of the hottest products on the market today.  Attendees will be able to test drivers on the range, wedges at the chipping area and putters on the practice green.  Representatives from each participating manufacturer will also be on hand to provide club fitting and product insight.

Additionally, attendees will have the opportunity to gather information on some of today’s most exciting golf participation programs that are part of the Play Golf America initiative, including Get Golf Ready, PGA Free Lesson Month, Women’s Golf Week, July is Family Golf Month, Take Your Daughter to the Course and Bring Your Kids to the Range. 

“The PGA Play Golf America Day at McCormick Ranch Golf Club will be a terrific golf experience for players of all levels,” said Curt Hudek, Executive Director, Southwest Section PGA.  “From avid golfers, to golf enthusiasts and newcomers to the game, this event will provide a fun-filled atmosphere that combines instruction, product testing, skills contests and some great golf giveaways.”

For more information on the PGA Play Golf America Day at McCormick Ranch Golf Club on March 21 sign up on line at http://www.playgolfamerica.com/index.cfm?action=days_list or call the club at 480-948-0260

About Play Golf America

Play Golf America, designed to increase participation among new and occasional adult golfers, was developed by The PGA of America, with the support of Allied Associations including, the LPGA, National Golf Course Owners Association, PGA TOUR, USGA and others involved in the annual Golf 20/20 Conference. The program utilizes the Web site to serve as a link for consumers to access fun, affordable and informative programs in their area.  Begun in January 2004, Play Golf America’s goal is to reach the millions of non-golfers who have expressed a desire to play, and the millions of occasional golfers who play between one and seven times per year. The campaign is designed to introduce people to the game of golf, enhance their skills and increase their frequency of play. 

The PGA of America is the world’s largest working sports organization comprised of 28,000 men and women golf Professionals who are the recognized experts in growing, teaching and managing the game of golf while serving millions of people throughout its 41 PGA Sections nationwide. Since its founding in 1916, The PGA of America has enhanced its leadership position in a $62 billion-a-year industry by growing the game of golf through its premier spectator events, world-class education and training programs, significant philanthropic outreach initiatives, and award-winning golf promotions. Today’s PGA Professional is the public’s link to the game, serving an essential role in the operation of golf facilities throughout the country.

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