During one of the early Masters tournaments in the mid-1930s, famed golfer Bobby Jones' father, Colonel robert P. Jones, was pressed into service as a rules official.
It had rained hard at Augusta the night before the final round, creating soggy fairways.
At the 12th hole, a player summoned Jones and requested relief from casual water. The colonel asked him where he stood in the tournament.
"Eighteen over," the player answered. The colonel told him, "Hell, do anything you want," and walked away.
- From "Golf is a Funny Game," by Allan Zullo and Chris Rodell
One of the great things about fundraising golf tournaments is that no one really cares how you play. Sure, teams win trophies for a variety of scores, and individuals go home with prizes for longest drive, closest-to-the- hole and a variety of other tournament highlights.
But the main objective is to raise money for a good cause, and since everyone ponies up to play and/or sponsor the event, where you end up finishing — heck, where the ball goes from shot to shot — matters little.
It's about having fun, playing fast and loose with the rules and contributing to a worthy cause.
It's impossible to list every single charity golf event coming up in the Inland Empire over the next few months, but here's a cross-section of opportunities for getting together with friends, working on your game (or not) and making a little money for some very good causes.
Entry fees and/or sponsorship costs vary; contact the organizers or the clubs for more information.
April 1: Second annual Country Springs Elementary School Classic Golf Tournament, Los Serranos Golf and Country Club, Chino Hills. Benefits Country Springs Elementary. Information: 909-590-8212.
April 13: 14th annual Education Classic Golf Tournament, Western Hills Country Club, Chino Hills. Benefits Best B.E.T. (Business & Education Together), providing mini-grants for local educators' classroom projects. Information: 714-528-6400
April 16: 2009 Real Estate Professional Foundation Charity Golf Tournament, Sierra La Verne Country Club, La Verne. Benefits San Gabriel Children's Center. Information: 626-536-4781.
April 22: 13th annual Al Canestro "Swing for Kids" Golf Classic, San Dimas Canyon Golf Course. Benefits programs and scholarships at Scheu Family YMCA of Upland. Information: 909-946-6120.
April 23: Inland Valley Hope Partners 13th annual Golf Classic, Sierra La Verne Country Club, La Verne. Benefits food and shelter programs for the homeless, displaced and disadvantaged. Information: 909-622-3806, ext. 231.
April 27: Casa Colina Foundation's 27th annual Padua Village Golf Classic, Red Hill Country Club, Rancho Cucamonga. Benefits Casa Colina Centers for Rehabilitation's Padua homes for the developmentmentally disabled. Information 909-596-7733 or toll free 800-926-5462, ext 2223.
May 11: Assistance League of Pomona Valley annual golf tournament, Red Hill Country Club, Rancho Cucamonga. Benefits multiple philanthropic programs, including food and clothing for youth, holiday gift baskets and dental programs. Information: 909-629-6142.
May 14: Steven's Hope for Children seventh annual golf tournament, Sierra La Verne Country Club, La Verne. Benefits programs for families with children in extended care and rehabilitation away from home. Information: 909-373-0678.
June 1: Ninth annual Caring Hearts Charity Golf Tournament, Sierra Lakes Golf Club, Fontana. Benefits Inland Empire United Way programs. Information: 909-980-2857, ext. 214.
June 15: 17th annual A. Gary Anderson Memorial Golf Classic, Red Hill Country Club, Rancho Cucamonga. Benefits the Children's Fund, a San Bernardino non-profit that collects, organizes and distributes donated goods, services and money to children at risk. Information: 909-383-9772
Aug. 24: 12th annual LeRoy Haynes Center Golf Classic, Red Hill Country Club, Rancho Cucamonga. Benefits children living at LeRoy Haynes Center in La Verne and attending special education school on campus. Information: 909-593-2581, ext. 581.
Sept. 14: San Antonio Classic Benefit Tournament, Red Hill Country Club, Rancho Cucamonga. Benefits construction of a new hospital bed tower and emergency department through the San Antonio Hospital Foundation. Information: 909-920-4962.
Sept. 18: Riverside Police Officers Association 2009 Charity Golf Tournament, Moreno Valley Ranch Golf Club, Moreno Valley. Benefits Loma Linda Ronald McDonald House, Southern California Concerns of Police Survivors, Blue Elves and the RPOA. Information: 951-784-1034.
Sept. 28: OPARC Invitational Golf Tournament, Red Hill Country Club, Rancho Cucamonga. Benefits programs dedicated to helping people with disabilities and their families. Information: 909-985-3116.
Jeff Keating is executive director of public affairs at Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona.
better living | golf
By JEFF KEATING 
