Join the Fight Against Breast Cancer and Swing Away

Here is a winning formula for a great charity golf tournament.

First, it takes a group of caring people who love golf. Then it takes a beautiful and challenging golf course. Generous sponsors are also needed, and another necessary ingredient is a very worthwhile cause.

For good measure, toss in two cars as hole-in-one prizes, an always popular helicopter ball drop, an auction that features a trip to the South of France, plus lunch and dinner as well as refreshments on the course.

What you come up with is the Glendora Country Club’s third annual Play For P.I.N.K Golf Tournament on Oct. 25, sponsored by San Dimas Community Hospital, Montclair Hospital Medical Center and Chino Valley Medical Center.

The money raised by the tournament goes directly to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF). Last year’s tournament cleared almost $47,000 for breast cancer research.

And get this: Of the some 210 golf and/or tennis clubs that participate in the Play for P.I.N.K. program, the Glendora Country Club now ranks as the sixth largest fund raiser nationwide.

Since 1996, Play for P.I.N.K has donated $25.75 million to the BCRF, which was founded in 1993 by Evelyn Lauder, a member of the Estee Lauder cosmetic company who helped create the pink ribbon as a symbol of breast cancer awareness. Lauder, 75, died last November from complications of ovarian cancer at her home in New York City.

In October 2010, BCRF awarded $33 million to more than 170 scientists in the U.S., Canada, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and Australia. Currently, 88 cents of each dollar donated to the foundation goes directly breast cancer research and awareness programs.

You can see it is a worthwhile cause.

As for the tournament, which has proven in a short period of time that it is one of the finest in this area, ranking up there with the Sowing Seeds For Life Celebrity Tournament, which was at Glendora Country Club on Oct. 8.

This being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Play For P.I.N.K. tournament is a natural.

And you could be the lucky winner of a car donated by Crestview Cadillac of West Covina or Thorson Buick and GMC Truck Motor Center in Pasadena. And they aren’t just for lease. They’re yours to own if you happen to make a hole-in-one.

A unique thing about the helicopter drop at this tournament is the use of pink balls. How appropriate is that? While the helicopter hovers above the driving range before dropping the pink balls, participants cheer from the patio.

The silent and live auctions offer, besides that trip to the South of France, golf outings, merchandise, furniture, theater tickets, art by well-known artists, sporting equipment, and tickets to sports events.

A team of auctioneers make the live auction fast-paced and fun. They are Pete Norrel of Pomona, a retired Superior Court Judge and the chairman of the tournament, and Doug Sanicola, owner of Outdoor Elegance, a LaVerne company specializing in outdoor furniture, and Jim Blackburn of Pasadena, the current Glendora CC member.

Blackburn, a retired administrator for the California State University system, has more than 20 years of experience as an amateur auctioneer. His deep, resonant Southern voice makes him a natural.

For an event like this, you’d think the price per golfer might be in the $600 range. But that gets you a foursome. It’s only $150 per golfer. The price for the dinner and auction only is $50. There are sponsorship packages available, ranging from $2,500 to $1,000.

The scramble-format tournament begins with a shotgun start at 10 a.m.

For further information or to register, call Glendora Country Club at (626) 335-4051, or Jim Blackburn at (626) 791-3051.