News

February 23, 2011

Senior Golf Open to Help Local Non-profits

Golfers over 50 can hit the links at the Siouxland Senior Open Wednesday, May 18 at Two River's Golf Course, meet sports celebrity Johnny Rodgers and help two non-profits: Sunrise Retirement Community and The First Tee, a character-building youth golf program.

The area's most prestigious event for golfers 50 and older, the 19th annual Senior Open will feature 1972 Heisman Trophy winner Rodgers at the awards banquet at Dakota Dunes Country Club.

Each year the Senior Open officially supports a non-profit cause while establishing Siouxland's senior golf champion, recognized with the Gunderson's Cup and Dale Mogren Memorial Plaque. The tournament has raised more than $300,000 for Siouxland organizations since golfers first teed off in 1992.

• Sunrise Retirement Community is a non-profit, community-based senior living community now celebrating its 50 anniversary of caring for seniors at all stages of aging, including those needing long-term care, memory care and assisted living services.
  Proceeds for Sunrise will help fund charity care for residents with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
   
• First Tee is a local youth golf program that instills character-building values as it also teaches youth age 10 and over about golf. The local chapter of a national youth program, just several years old, has already grown to nearly 160 young persons from the tri-state area. There is no other program like it in Siouxland that teaches the fundamentals of the game along with discipline, honesty, courtesy, sportsmanship and perseverance.
  Proceeds for The First Tee will help fund its 2011 expenses to teach young golfers honesty, courtesy, sportsmanship and perseverance.

"We are thrilled to receive proceeds from the Senior Open this year along with The First Tee," says Lorrie Stedman, Sunrise director of fund development. "Senior golfers understand the value of Sunrise care and also appreciate seeing future golfers develop in The First Tee program."

"We are extremely grateful to be a beneficiary of the Senior Open" states program director Steve McGrory. The First Tee engages young people in a combination of life skills, leadership and golf activities, and exposes them to positive traits that will help them achieve success in life. In the process, participants become valuable assets to their communities.

Stedman has a special connection to the Senior Open. The memorial plaque honors her deceased father, Dale Mogren. "My dad had a great passion for the game," she said. "It touches my heart to see many of his golf cronies come and play in his honor."

For registration information visit www.ssogolf.com.