Golf Tournament & Ball Drop Fundraiser to benefit Women Helping Women & The Maui Farm, Sept. 7

The Rotary Club of Upcountry Maui will host Women Helping Women and The Maui Farm at the club’s ninth annual golf tournament fundraiser, on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, at Pukalani Country Club.

Proceeds from the golf tournament will support Women Helping Women, which offers emergency shelter and programs for victims of domestic violence, and The Maui Farm, which provides safe transitional housing and farm-based, family-centered programs.

Sadly, the Lahaina fire of last August has affected the community and the fundraiser. Nearly 1,000 businesses were destroyed, some of which were loyal contributors to the event. But at the same time, the need for the tournament is greater than ever this year, as violence against women and girls increases significantly after a disaster. The need for Women Helping Women and The Maui Farm’s services more than doubled over the last year. So it is more important than ever that the community steps up and participates in this important fundraising event.

The tournament format is an 18-hole, four-person, shotgun start, best-ball scramble.

The fee for a single entry is $125 and $150 at the door. A two-player team pays $250 in advance and $300 at the door.

The price of entry includes the green fee, the shared cart fee, a “swag bag,” a continental breakfast package, a hot buffet lunch, snacks, water, soda, a door prize drawing ticket and an awards presentation.

The top three teams will be entered into a prize drawing. “The grand prize includes dinner for four at one of Maui’s best restaurants and a round of golf in Kā‘anapali,” said event chair Mary Albitz.

Golfers will also vie for a $10,000 cash prize for the hole-in-one contest, sponsored by Maui Oral Surgery. The tournament will also include a longest-drive contest, with prizes for both the men’s and women’s divisions. A prize will also go to the winner of the Closest-to-the-Pin contest. Even the highest scoring team comes away with a prize!

For those who want to support the club’s efforts, but do not golf, ball drop tickets are five for $20 (tickets are sold in bundles of five only). The “owner” of the ball closest to the hole wins $1,000; second prize, $500; third prize, $250. There is also a $25 prize for the furthest from the hole. Participants need not be present to win. The ball drop will be held at 6:45am right before the start of the tournament.

Check-in and breakfast begin at 6:00 a.m. The tournament’s shotgun start begins promptly at 7 a.m. Lunch, the awards ceremony, door prize drawings will immediately follow the tournament.

Sponsorship opportunities are still available as we have lost all of our major sponsors this including Title Sponsor. One of the most valuable benefits of sponsorship is the significant amount of publicity you will receive, exposing you and your business as a true Women Helping Women and The Maui Farm supporter. For maximum impact, become a sponsor today. Monetary and prize donations are also welcome.

Tournament sponsors might include ‘Ulupalakua Ranch and Forest Green Sponsor Ridge to Reef Environmental (still trying to confirm these two).

Tee up for a good cause and help support the good work of Women Helping Women and The Maui Farm. Register for the tournament at UpcountryMauiRotary.org by clicking on the golf tournament banner at the top of the page, then the “REGISTER NOW” link.

“We are so grateful to Upcountry Rotary and their generosity in helping Women Helping Women raise funds for the shelter building maintenance fund!” said WHW Executive Director Sanoe Ka‘aihue. “Over 300 women and children live in our shelter every year, and we provide everything they may need — from food to clothing, and advocacy and transportation. It’s so important that these families have a clean, safe and sound environment where they can heal. Thank you for helping us keep the shelter beautiful for our families.”

“We are thrilled to be included as a beneficiary again this year,” said The Maui Farm Board President Beth Mathias. “We teach essential life skills for self-sufficient living. With a focus on serving women and their children who have been impacted by family violence, homelessness, substance abuse and poverty, The Maui Farm nurtures families to develop to their full potential. The Maui Farm has compassionately served hundreds of women and keiki in its Family Strengthening Program and we are so grateful for this additional support.”

For information, to purchase ball drop tickets or to inquire about sponsorship opportunities, email upcountryrotary@gmail.com or call Mary Albitz at (808) 269-2445.

The Rotary Club of Upcountry Maui, “The Green Club,” is well known for its commitment to Maui’s community and environment. The club has earned Rotary District 5000’s Medium Club of the Year award and numerous other awards for its ongoing support of the Maui’s community. RCUM received Rotary International’s Significant Achievement Award for its ongoing electronics recycling (e-cycling) program.