Veterans Day San Jacinto

Free golf honors veterans at San Jacinto course


Two days of free golf is being teed up by Golden Era Golf Course Community Center as it presents its second annual Veterans Day Golf.

Not all the action will be on the greens Wednesday as a ceremony will be held at the center's clubhouse at 11 a.m. The public is invited to the patriotic ceremony that is to include an armored salute, an aerial presentation of the American flag by Just in Time Skydivers, performances by the San Jacinto High School marching band, several guest speakers and the playing of taps.

To honor veterans for their service to our country, two golf flights will be available each day. Although all 136 spots have been filled for Wednesday, there are still openings for Thursday.

Golfers can register through Tuesday. Check-in times are 7 and 11:30 a.m., and shotgun starts are scheduled for 7:30 a.m. and noon. A continental breakfast and lunch are included for all golfers.

"Last year there was such a demand for golfing that this year we decided to do this over a two-day period," said Muriel Dufresne, community affairs director for Golden Era. More than 80 veterans had to be turned away last year once the course reached its quota.

Another added attraction this year is an appearance by Joe Grohman and Pete Lowery, who will demonstrate adaptive golf clubs used by disabled golfers.

Keith Lundy, golf events coordinator and founder of the Veterans Day Golf event, is working with Grohman to offer The Inland Empire Disabled Veterans Golf Clinic Program at the Golden Era center starting Feb. 10.

"Several months after the first Veterans Day Golf event, I was watching one of the PGA golf tournaments on television and they showed a clip of a Wounded Warrior golf program," said Lundy. "I came up with the idea to seek out and invite disabled veterans to play in this year's Veterans Day event. I was put in touch with Joe Grohman, head professional at the Navy Golf Course in Cypress."

Lundy volunteered at Grohman's disabled veterans and Junior Blind golf clinics and wanted to bring something similar to San Jacinto. Grohman will be involved with the clinic and will also be a speaker at Wednesday's event.

"This event honors veterans of all wars and genders for their service to our country," said Lundy, of San Jacinto. It is made possible through contributions by nearly 20 different community sponsors.

The center is at 19871 Gilman Springs Road in San Jacinto.

Information, 951-654-5568.

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