Friday

A Chance To Play Winged Foot While Lending a Helping Hand

Winged Foot, The Putting Green at Dusk                                            Photo: Golf Girl Media




















"Winged Foot is, in sum, a temple to the spirit of golf." -- Joseph C. Dey 
 
Winged Foot is magic. You feel it the moment you pass through its stately stone gate.  Even if you've never played golf... and know nothing of it's history... you sense the magic of the place. It's something that goes well beyond the iconic tree-lined fairways and sloping pear-shaped greens.

The exclusive slice of Westchester County that contains two of the country's top golf courses is beautiful... but not breathtaking.  What's breathtaking is an ambiance of cloistered contentment that surrounds the  majestic stone clubhouse and envelopes its private parkland.  Its allure transcends Tillinghast and his masterful "Golden Age" architecture.

I consider myself very luck to have been able to play both the East and West Courses and they remain my most memorable golf experiences to date, but as a private, invitation-only club, the opportunity to play at Winged Foot is very hard to come by.  So when a good friend of mine told me the story of Sue Memhard and the Emerald Heart Cancer Foundation it resonated on a couple of levels.

The Emerald Heart Cancer Foundation provides assistant to women facing cancer.  Sue is it's founder and a two time breast cancer survivor, she's now in treatment for the third time and has accumulated substantial uninsured medical bills herself.  As founder however, she's not eligible for Emerald Heart's grants so the foundation's Director of Grants, Elyn Jacobs has organized a raffle and is selling raffle tickets, in the form of tax-deductible donations for Sue, via Lend a Helping Hand charity.
The lucky winner and two friends will enjoy a round of golf and lunch at Winged Foot Golf Club. 

Tickets are $50 each and only 200 will be sold.   The drawing will be held on October 12th, 2011.  For additional information about Sue and Helping Hands see Elyn's blog post and feel free to email her with any questions you may have at elyn@emeraldheart.org.

To buy a ticket

Go to Sue's page at Lend A Helping Hand, click the DONATE button under Sue’s photo/bio, and follow the instructions for Paypal or credit card payment. In “Special Instructions” put “GOLF” and provide the email address at which you would like to be contacted if you are the winner.  You will receive a receipt for your taxes.

Helping a woman who's helped so many others is a truly commendable.  I thank you in advance for your support and wish you the best of luck at a chance to play Winged Foot. 

7 comments:

  1. I'm living in Singapore for now but Winged Foot is definitely at the top of my list. I didn't enter the raffle but did leave a donation and wish Ms. Memhard the best.

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  2. When it comes to cancer, too many patients are treated in a one-size-fits-all fashion. Integrative care was an important part of my sister's post-treatment recovery. She's been in remission for three years and won her league tournament this past summer.

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  3. I've never played at Winged Foot but went to watch a practice round when the US Open was there in 2006. Have dreamed of playing ever since. Maybe this is my chance.

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  4. I know they're both great but which course did you like like more east or west?

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  5. thank you so much, Nigel and other open-hearted golfers who are donating to help save a stranger's life! Many blessings and my deepest gratitude to you. --Sue

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  6. Pat, thanks so much for this post. I appreciate your support! Thank you all for your support!

    Elyn

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  7. It's great when an awesome contest is connected to a great cause. Thanks everyone.

    To Nigel's question on the East vs. the West course at Winged Foot. I loved them both. Most everyone (nonmembers) I talk to wants to play the West course because it's were the US Opens have been played. I had more fun on the East course... which is said to be easier... but in my case I think it was due to the gorgeous fall weather and the fun ambiance of the day; both were far beyond my abilities as a golfer. {(>_<)}

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