Buckeye, Arizona – Copper Canyon Golf Club and Troon Golf will participate in the third annual Patriot Golf Day, a joint initiative of The PGA of America and the United States Golf Association. Golfers across the country and at Copper Canyon Golf Club, Sun City Festival have the unique opportunity to donate $1 or more to benefit the Folds of Honor Foundation , which provides post-secondary educational scholarships to families of those who have become disabled or lost their lives in the line of duty. Copper Canyon Golf Club will request at least an additional $1 for each green fee that is processed Sept. 5-7.

“This is a great way for the golf industry to help the families of those who have lost their lives or have been injured so that we may have our freedom,” said Al Larose, Head Golf Professional of Copper canyon Golf Club “This is a wonderful opportunity for golfers in our community to give back to those who have given everything.”

The inaugural Patriot Golf Day was held Sept. 1, 2007, and resulted in donations of more than $1.1 million from more than 3,200 golf facilities. In 2008, more than $2.1 million was raised at more than 3,800 golf facilities nationwide. In the last two years, more than 550 educational scholarships have been given through the Folds of Honor Foundation.

Patriot Golf Day was inspired by Major Dan Rooney, a PGA Professional and USGA member from Broken Arrow, Okla. Rooney has served three tours of duty in Iraq as an F-16 pilot in the 125th Fighter Squadron of the Oklahoma Air National Guard.

Individuals interested in contributing to the Folds of Honor Foundation, and those applying for scholarships should visit Foldsofhonor.org.

Folds of Honor Foundation
The Folds of Honor Foundation provides post-secondary educational scholarships for children and spouses of military service men and women killed or disabled while serving our great nation.

The PGA of America
Since 1916, The PGA of America’s mission has been twofold; to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf. By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, the Association enables PGA Professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in the multi-billion dollar golf industry. By creating and delivering dramatic world-class championships and exciting and enjoyable golf promotions that are viewed as the best of their class in the golf industry, The PGA of America elevates the public’s interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere. The PGA of America brand represents the very best in golf.

About the USGA
The USGA is the national governing body of golf in the USA and Mexico, a combined territory that includes more than half the world’s golfers and golf courses. The Association’s most visible role is played out each season in conducting 13 national championships, including the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open and U.S. Senior Open. Ten additional USGA national championships are exclusively for amateurs, and include the U.S. Amateur and the U.S. Women’s Amateur. The USGA also writes the Rules of Golf, conducts equipment testing, provides expert course maintenance consultations, funds research for better turf and a better environment, maintains a Handicap System and administers an ongoing “For the Good of the Game” grants program, which has allocated more than $65 million over 13 years to successful programs that bring the game’s values to youths from disadvantaged backgrounds and people with disabilities. For more information about the USGA, visit www.usga.org.

Troon Golf’s Al Larose, head golf professional at Copper Canyon Golf Club in Buckeye, Arizona, shares some team-building ideas that can be easily organized around a friendly game of golf. With a little planning and fore-thought, golf can be a great team-building exercise, providing the type of environment that builds positive reinforcement and strong interpersonal relationships that employees need on the job.

* Accommodate different skill levels. Your team will probably include people with very different skill levels. Different skill levels occur every day on the job, so this kind of team building exercise is appropriate. To accommodate the varying skills of your team members, you may want to play a team scramble or best ball event. This style of play lets each team member contribute where they can. And, it helps everyone feel like they are helping the team, which is the same spirit you are trying to build in the workplace. And don’t forget to call ahead. Most golf shop staff will supply the rules you need for a productive round of golf.

* Establish a set of rules. Put someone who understands the rules of golf and course etiquette on each team to help guide the others. Try and keep each team at or under four players. Sometimes scramble golf is played so that each player on the team has to contribute at least 1-2 drives and 1-2 putts. This is to keep one good golfer on the team from hitting all the “best ball” shots while other team members watch.

* Pick an appropriate location. Picking an appropriate location is very important. You’ll want to look for a player-friendly course like the Schmidt/Curley design at Copper Canyon. This particular course offers up to four sets of tees that range from 5,200 yards to over 6,800 yards in length. In addition to the course itself, there are practice facilities, a restaurant (Indigo Grille overlooking the starting positions of the 1st and 10th tees), a snack bar and meeting rooms.

* Don’t forget the equipment. Everyone on the team should have their own golf clubs and bag. Non-golfers will need a few clubs. A rental set of clubs can even be split between two non-golfers as long as there are enough bags and putters. If the location has a driving range and/or a putting green, the golfers can “tune-up” while the non-golfers can be taught some basics. The golf shop at Copper Canyon can outfit anyone — men, ladies and southpaws, too.

* Book off-season and save. For readers of The Meeting Planner’s Best Resource, Copper Canyon Golf is currently offering a Summer Public Special. Unlimited golf, range balls and 1 sleeve of balls for just $45.00! For unlimited golf, you must book 3 days in advance and tee off before 11:00 AM. Our group special for 12 or more players at $35.00 and a sleeve of balls, coupled with our Troon Golf playing conditions, offers a deal that cannot be beat! Bookings are on a “space available” basis. Call us at 928.252.6783 and mention you saw us on WTTC or go to the Copper Canyon Golf Club listing on WTTC Phoenix/Scottsdale to e-mail us directly.