Gold Canyon leads way
on Patriot Golf Day

        For a second straight year Patriot Golf Day, the primary fund-raiser for the Folds of Honor Foundation, will take place at golf courses throughout the East Valley. The only difference this time around is Patriot Golf Day will begin at some courses on Saturday and last through the following Saturday, with the primary day for donations being focused on Monday’s Labor Day.
        The mission is simple, as more than 3,200 courses nationwide will donate $1 from every round played, including 37 courses in the East Valley. Scottsdale leads the way with 10 courses involved in Patriot Golf Day, but no East Valley facility is doing more than Gold Canyon Golf Resort, which has scheduled a two-man scramble the morning of Saturday, Sept. 6 with all proceeds (above costs) going to the organization.
      Scott Scherger, director of golf at Gold Canyon, said the idea for a tournament came following last year’s Patriot Golf Day, which raised a total of over $1.1 million nationwide.
      “We just felt it was the right thing to do, to raise more than the normal ($1 per round contribution),’’ Scherger said. “There is no job more difficult in the world today than what faces are American military personnel and their families, and we just want to do our part along with the PGA of America and other participating partners.’’
      Scherger said the response has been overwhelming, as more than half the available spots in the tournament on the Dinosaur Course at Gold Canyon filled up immediately.
      “This is something that is special, and a terrific opportunity for us to give back to those who have sacrificed their lives for our country,’’ said Scherger, who recommended that those interested in signing up for the tournament or making a donation call Gold Canyon tournament director Ryan Duff at (480) 982-9449 or email Duff at ryan@gcgr.com.
       Also participating in the Patriot Golf Day on a larger scale is Troon Golf, which has six facilities – Kierland, Ocotillo, The Phoenician, Troon North, Talking Stick, and Whirlwind – in the East Valley. The $1 donation will be collected from Saturday through Monday at those Troon Golf-managed courses.
     Patriot Golf Day was created by Major Dan Rooney, a PGA Professional and U.S. Golf Association member from Broken Arrow, Okla. Rooney, who is an F-16 pilot in the 125th Fighter Squadron of the Oklahoma Air National Guard, will soon report for his third tour of duty in Iraq.
      The Folds of Honor Foundation is a 501-c3 legacy foundation designed to provide educational scholarship for the dependents and spouses of service members who are either killed or disabled while serving in Iraq or Afghanistan.