Notah Begay III, the most decorated Native American golfer in history, brought his experience and knowledge to the Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club earlier this month.
Notah Begay III with Ak-Chin Indian Community Vice Chairman Gabriel Lopez and Salinda Lopez
On Saturday, August 10, Begay hosted golf clinics for children at 8 a.m. and adults at 10 a.m., both sessions filled to capacity. He also spoke to the crowd of spectators and conducted a demonstration clinic. Between teaching the long drive and chipping, Begay was a natural with the children at his clinic. He is a gifted teacher.
Begay is the only full-blooded Native American to have played on the PGA Tour, according to the NB3 Foundation website. His heritage is Navajo, San Felipe, and Isleta Pueblos. Begay has won four PGA Tour tournaments, and he’s the third player in the history of professional golf to score 59 in a professional event. Begay also partnered with his friend Tiger Woods in the 2000 President’s Cup.
As a young player, Begay earned a scholarship to Stanford University, where he completed an economics degree. He also achieved All-American Honors three times and led the school’s golf team to the national championship in 1994. Begay now owns a golf course development firm and works with Native American communities to help develop world-class golf properties. He also recently became a golf commentator for NBC Sports and the Golf Channel.
When he’s not on the golf course, Begay dedicates his time and resources to young people in the Native American community. Begay created The Notah Begay III (NB3) Foundation in 2005 to raise awareness and funds toward the issue of obesity and diabetes among Native American youth.
In 2009, Golf Magazine named Begay one of its Innovators of the Year for his philanthropic work through the NB3 Foundation. He was also named one of the Top 100 Sports Educators in the world by the Institute for International Sport. In 2012, Begay received the Charlie Bartlett Award from the Golf Writers Association of America for his contributions to philanthropy and community.
Thank you to Ak-Chin Indian Community, Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club, and Notah Begay for hosting this successful event!
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