Corte Bella resident organizes Patriot Golf Day at local courses

Darlene Clark broke her promise.

The Corte Bella resident had assured her husband she would take a break from her numerous projects at Briarwood Country Club.

Then she spotted a newspaper article while on vacation.

"I was sitting on our porch in Sedona and I saw an article about The Folds of Honor Foundation," Clark recalled. "Since Bob and I both come from military families, I knew we had to get involved."

The Folds of Honor Foundation is the brainchild of Maj. Dan Rooney, an Oklahoma Air National Guardsman and golf pro who found himself on board a 2006 flight carrying the flag-draped casket of a soldier killed in Iraq.

As he fought back tears watching family members wait for the casket, Rooney decided to help.

Enlisting the support of the PGA, Rooney launched Patriot Golf Day last Labor Day, raising $1 million by asking golfers to kick in an extra dollar in green fees that weekend.

Since that time, the nonprofit Folds of Honor Foundation has provided 200 college scholarships.

Many of us would have been moved after reading Rooney's story.

Most of us would have just put the article down and moved on with our daily routines.

Not Darlene Clark, who was moved to action.

Clark put down the article and got off the porch in Sedona.

Within days, she had arranged for Briarwood Country Club to participate in this year's Patriot Golf Day, which is scheduled Friday through Monday at courses throughout the country. At Briarwood, the event will last through Sept. 7.

Golfers are asked to donate a minimum $1 a round when they sign in at the Briarwood pro shop. A glass jar and envelope for donations will be on display at the check-in counter.

"I know there are a lot of military families at Briarwood," Clark said "It would be nice if we got $500 to $1,000."

Briarwood isn't the only location throughout the Sun Cities participating in the program.

Others listed on the Folds of Honor Foundation Web site include Sun City Country Club and Union Hills Country Club in Sun City, Corte Bella and the golf courses owned by the Recreation Centers of Sun City West, Inc.

Despite those promises to her husband, Clark has already begun making plans for next year's event at Briarwood.

"We got involved this year at the last minute, but we should be able to do even better for next year," said Clark, who indicated she may try to sponsor a golf tournament to raise more money and awareness. "Whatever we raise, I know it will help."

Rich Bolas is the sports editor of the Daily News-Sun. He may be reached at 623-876-2523 or via e-mail at rbolas@yourwestvalley.com.

IF YOU GO

Here are the names of Northwest Valley golf courses scheduled to participate in Patriot Golf Day, scheduled Friday through Monday:

El Mirage

Pueblo El Mirage

Glendale

Desert Mirage

Arrowhead Country Club

Adobe Dame Family Golf Center

500 Club

Peoria

GolfTEC-Arrowhead

Westbrook Village

Trilogy at Vistancia

Quintero

Sun City

Sun City Country Club

Union Hills Country Club

Sun City West

Trail Ridge

Briarwood Country Club

Corte Bella

Grandview

Stardust

Echo Mesa

Pebblebrook

Surprise

Sun City Grand Community

Association