Don DeLorenzo
it's your SWING
Don has been the PGA General Manager of Gilroy Golf Course since
1985. He is a former winner of the Bill Stausbaugh award given by the PGA
of America for excellence in education. He was named the 2014 Gilroy
Chamber of Commerce Man of the Year and was born and raised in Gilroy.
Golf…the Game that Touches Community
W
hy do you chase that silly
white ball? How many golf-
ers have been asked that question? If I
had a dollar for every time I was asked
that, I would be a very rich man. But the
real answer to that question is far deeper
than the “obvious” answer.
Most people say that it’s a great way
to exercise and spend time with friends.
Others will say it’s the way the game
grabs you and won’t let go as you seek
that perfect drive or putt and the impos-
sible perfect round. Still others enjoy
the game for the beautiful places it can
take you; from the beaches of Hawaii to
the shores of Florida and everywhere in
between. It always amazes me when a
non-golfer tells me how much they enjoy
watching golf on TV for the beauty of the
golf courses and the awe-inspiring talent
of the golfers.
I have come to realize that I really
enjoy this great game for what it can do
to inspire youth, and to help individuals
and communities and raise funds for
needy programs. I don’t believe that
there is a sport around that has this vehi-
cle in which to reach out to the masses
of people to participate in tournaments
and volunteer at events to help benefit
local communities the way golf does.
Let’s start locally. The First Tee of
Silicon Valley is a national organization
that, luckily for us, has a program loca-
tion at Gavilan College Golf Course.
The TFTSV teaches golf and life skills to
youth ages 5-17 to better prepare them
for real-life situations. Their “Nine Core
Values” are integrated into golf lessons
to teach youth positive values while con-
necting them with golf, school and fam-
ily. Hundreds of youth from the South
County have participated in the program
at Gavilan College GC since its inception
some eight years ago. Gilroy has ben-
efitted from it by producing responsible
children who statistically do well in
school. Currently, both Christopher and
Gilroy High Schools have student ath-
letes who have either gone through the
program as students or as volunteers.
You can’t talk about golf in the com-
munity without bringing up the fundrais-
ing aspect. Charity golf tournaments
have—either in the past, present or
future—contributed to the operating
budgets of many service organizations,
non-profits and school clubs or teams.
I have worked with many people who
have used golf as a way to raise funds
and bring people together for a great
cause. It is this aspect of golf that is
often overlooked. This is a benefit of
the game that touches so many people
whether you know it or not.
Case in point, for over 30 years, the
City of Gilroy Therapeutics Recreation
hosted a tournament that was called
simply “Special Friends.” This tourna-
ment was vital in raising funds for the
developmentally disabled after the
“Special Olympics” moved out of Gilroy.
I thoroughly enjoyed hearing one of the
clients who thanked the tournament
participants for playing and donating
because it helped fund a yearly camp
program. Without this golf tournament,
who knows how the needs of that pro-
gram would have been served. So if you
have a friend, child, or relative with these
needs, chances are that golf has touched
them. A small sampling of organizations
that are hosting golf events for great
causes includes: “Tee Off for Cops and
Kids,” a local event benefitting the Gilroy
Police Officer’s Association and its pro-
grams that benefit the youth of Gilroy; the
Gilroy High School Athletic Association;
the American Legion; Gavilan College
Baseball; Live Oak Baseball. If you have
someone who benefits from these organi-
zations or teams, golf touches you.
WESTERN
GETAWAYS
In the past, St. Josephs Family Center
has hosted an event to help the multi-
tude of families that need assistance,
golf touches them. This past year after
the Garlic Festival shooting, the Gilroy
Sportsman Chefs hosted a tournament
to aid the victims of the tragedy, golf
touched them. Or how about “Air for
Paws” a non-profit that uses a golf tour-
nament to raise money to ensure that
defibrillators for dogs are on the engines
of first responders. Golf touches the pets
and their owners. Operation Freedom
Paws is an organization that trains service
animals and pairs them with needy vet-
erans. They have had several successful
golf tournaments to help fund their pro-
gram. Golf has touched them and their
veteran clients.
Many families have set up tourna-
ments to raise money for a relative, child
or loved one that is suffering from a
disease and requires special care, golf
touches them. Or the loved one who
has passed away and loved the game
of golf so much the family wants their
memory to live on in a form of a schol-
arship from the proceeds made at that
tournament, golf touches the family and
the recipient.
On a broader scale we have all heard
of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Did
you know that last year this golf event
handed out over 15 million…(yes that's
million with an M) dollars to local charities
in the area. So there’s little doubt that
you know someone that is connected to
a charity that has benefitted.
As you can see, golf is much more
than hitting a golf ball into a hole in the
ground with a long stick. So the next
time you see a golfer, ask them, “Why do
you chase that silly white ball around?”
The answer may surprise you because
it’s purpose can be so much more than
just a game.
Golf is great …….come out and play it!
114
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
SPRING 2020
gmhtoday.com
GOLF