Scotts Valley Residents Support the Pink Flamingo Invitational Golf Tournament

Nearly 100 golfers with dozens of sponsors and volunteers participated in the 28th annual Pink Flamingo Invitational golf tournament held at De Laveaga golf course Friday afternoon.

What once started as a small golf tournament formed by a group of friends soon became an annual event named the Pink Flamingo Invitational Golf Tournament. The traditional occasion was established in 1984 for the friends of Mike Leimbach.

In 1983 Mike Leimbach, a Scotts Valley resident, suffered a paralyzing football accident at the age of 15 during the annual SCCAL Football Jamboree. Since then, this tournament has raised money year after year for the Spinal Cord Society (SCS) where Leimbach is the president of the Santa Cruz Chapter.

Leimbach also works at Scotts Valley High School as the youth services counselor and presents the Most Inspirational Athlete award once a year to a male and female student.

By his own right, Leimbach is an inspiration. After finishing high school, he received both his undergraduate and graduate degrees from Santa Clara University. He is a licensed marriage and family therapist and organizes the Pink Flamingo Invitational with the help of friends and family. The Santa Cruz Spinal Cord Chapter has raised over $275,000 to date for the SCS. 

On the first Friday in August for the past 28 years, golf supporters show up wearing pink hats, socks, shirts and shoes to enjoy time with friends and play golf while raising money to develop a treatment to cure paralysis.  

North Bay Ford, De Laveaga Motors and Ocean Honda were sponsors at holes 3, 5 and 15 with the chance to win cars if you got a hole in one. Other opportunities to win big prizes were shots closest to the pin, longest drive and the flamingo hole.  

Club One Scotts Valley offered a raffle with prizes at the start of the tournament.

Johnny’s Harborside served up delicious tacos while Santa Cruz Brewing Company offered beer samplers at the 15th hole.  

A decorated drink cart circled the course driven by Traci Telles Pisciotta, a longtime Scotts Valley resident, offering refreshments to the golfers. Telles has known Leimbach since the fourth grade and has been a part of the event for 20 years. 

“This is a unique day because of the people involved and the cause it’s for,” Telles said. “A lot of old friends from the area show up year after year, it’s our opportunity to stay connected.”

After the event, the DeLaveaga clubhouse hosted a dinner with raffle tickets sold in addition to a silent auction to raise money. Everyone gathered and was able to talk, laugh and share memories about their great day on the golf course.

To finish the day, Leimbach spoke about the work of the SCS.

“It is more hopeful than ever to reach a cure,” he said, thanking all the sponsors, donors and volunteers. 

“Without all of you, this wouldn’t be possible,” he added with a tearful eye. “I feel blessed.”

Awards were given out to the top teams and players and the honorary “Mr. Flamingo" was awarded to Jef Tokunaga for his generous support on and off the course.   

The day’s event was a huge success with the hopes of attracting new faces and golfers of all ages next year and in the years to come.  

Check the Patch calendar or click here to sign up for next year’s tournament.