There are plenty of good causes worthy of donations, but it seems only natural for a golf association to focus on efforts that have direct connections to the game.
With that in mind, the CWGA’s two-year-old “Three-Putt for the Cure” initiative is heading in a slightly different direction while still assisting people affected by cancer.
This year, CWGA member clubs, with some help from their CGA counterparts, raised $8,111 through the Three-Putt for the Cure program to help fund breast cancer research.
That brings the amount donated to Colorado affiliates of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation to $16,316 since the inception of Three-Putt for the Cure at the beginning of 2011.
But starting next year, the money raised through the CWGA initiative will go toward providing golf lessons and golf-related activities to patients afflicted by cancer of any sort.
“For us, it seems like this would help golfers help golfers and keep it closer to home,” said CWGA membership programs and marketing manager Kim Nissen, who came up with the idea for Three-Putt for the Cure, and has spearheaded the program.
Specifically, the plan is for cancer patients to receive golf lessons from Elena King, a director of instruction at CommonGround Golf Course, which is owned and operated by the CGA and CWGA. King is the 2011 LPGA Central Section Teacher of the Year. The idea with the lessons is to enhance the physical-therapy process for those afflicted by cancer, particularly those interested in golf.
The change in where the Three-Putt for the Cure funds will go came after CWGA leaders were approached by Julie Bach, founder and executive director of the non-profit Spa4The Pink, which helps cancer patients and survivors by providing spa and other therapeutic services. The CWGA, along with the CGA, plan to partner with Bach, with King’s golf instruction stemming from the concept of Spa4The Pink.
In the Three-Putt for the Cure initiative, CWGA member clubs hold tournaments or casual events in which players can pledge a given amount of money for each time they three-putt. Others can simply donate a set amount for the cause.
And this year, the CGA got involved on a small scale, with a Colorado Springs-based league and a group from Eagle Ranch Golf Course contributing to the effort.
All told between the CWGA and CGA, 16 clubs or organizations or individuals participated in Three-Putt for the Cure in 2012. For the second straight year, Fort Collins Country Club was by far the largest contributor, donating $2,343 this year after giving $2,070 in 2011.
Four other CWGA member clubs — South Suburban 9 ($934), The Raven at Three Peaks ($903), Patty Niners ($838) and Red Rocks Country Club ($812) — also kicked in more than $800 each.
“I felt like the second year was another big success,” Nissen said. “We teamed up with the CGA to try to grow the program. It feels good doing stuff to help the community.”
