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The world-class Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club hosted the Southern Dunes Scramble on July 31 as part of the single largest charitable golf event to benefit veterans and their families. Troon Golf, the management partner of Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club, partnered with the World’s Largest Golf Outing (WLGO) organization, and 12 of their courses hosted a WLGO tournament on July 31 and August 1, 2016. The Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club tournament hosted 44 players and raised $1,000.
This year’s WLGO events benefited the Fisher House Foundation, “a network of comfort homes where military and veterans’ families can stay at no cost when a loved one is receiving treatment” (https://fisherhouse.org/about/). The homes are located at major military and VA medical centers nationwide, close to the medical centers or hospitals they serve. The Arizona Fisher House is located in Tucson near the Southern Arizona VA Healthcare System. Since its inception more than 25 years ago, the Fisher House program has saved families an estimated $320 million in out-of-pocket costs for lodging and transportation.
The Fisher House does an excellent job helping the community. In 2015, they served nearly 27,000 families. Since their inception, the Fisher House has housed more than 277,000 families. In addition, they believe in the value of education and have given 7,000 students nearly $11,000,000 in scholarship awards.
WLGO tournaments are open to all golfers of any skill level, and golfers can play individually or on teams. Entry fees included a donation to the Fisher House Foundation. While not required, each person or team had the option to donate additional funds to the foundation. Individuals can also make a donation on behalf of their favorite team or golf course at https://www.worldslargestgolfouting.com
As of early August, the World’s Largest Golf Outing had raised more than $340,000 nationwide for the Fisher House Foundation.
Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club is consistently ranked among the top golf courses in the nation, currently ranked 5th in Arizona. For more information about Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club or to book tee times, visit their website or call 480-367-8949.
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Carolyn SostromCarolyn Sostrom is a long-time Arizona resident who loves desert sunsets, warm weather, Zumba, and the Western lifestyle. She attended Saguaro High School in Scottsdale and then Arizona State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism. Similarly to the protagonist in *The Devil Wears Prada*, Carolyn moved to New York City right after college. She started working for the fashion magazine company Conde Nast but never transitioned to the dark side. After a few years, she left New York in the rearview mirror and returned to her home state, taking a reporter job at the *Apache Junction Independent*. With over 30 years of freelance writing experience, Carolyn especially enjoys writing about community events and profiling individuals who are making a difference in their communities. She had the pleasure of interviewing a variety of cowboy personalities for an article she wrote for the *Scottsdale Independent* about the history of DC Ranch and its roots as a working ranch. Now, her Western adventures with CLN have her diving into the rugged automotive scene, exploring the trucks and rigs cowboys rely on for work, home, and play, a niche where grit meets horsepower. She works at Raising Special Kids, a nonprofit resource center for families of children with disabilities and special healthcare needs. Carolyn also volunteers with the Autism Society of Greater Phoenix. Carolyn believes that everyone has a story, and she loves connecting with others to hear their stories. She’s dedicated to ethical journalism and accurate reporting, which shines through in her storytelling.
