Native American golfer Notah Begay III hosts event at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club

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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!

Carolyn Sostrom

Carolyn 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.