High school golfer travels to help Hurricane Harvey relief efforts
In recent weeks, Hurricanes Harvey and Irma have taken center stage. Texas and Florida, and other locales, have been devastated. Many of us have wondered how we can help and kept those affected in our thoughts.
Most will never experience the suffering first hand but Foothill High junior golfer Noah MacFawn isn’t one who will have to guess how people are coping. He and his family traveled to the Houston area last week to help. The MacFawns were part of the first response team sent to the area by Calvary Chapel church. The group of 20 left last Monday and returned late Friday evening.
On Saturday morning, a bleary-eyed MacFawn played in the Southern Nevada Golf Association Clark County Amateur at Boulder Creek. He shot 77-83 and finished 27th playing against some of the top amateurs in Nevada. But after a week of experiencing what he did in Houston, how he finished in a golf tournament was a little less important to him than it used to be.
“I definitely had a more relaxed approach for the tournament than normal and realized it would be foolish to really get upset about a poor shot after what I experienced in Houston,” MacFawn said. “I’m sure I will get upset in the future because that’s human nature, but I have a different perspective.
“I now understand even more the great opportunity I have been given to play this game and in these tournaments.”
The MacFawns said they will never forget the look of shock on many of the faces they encountered. During the trip, they were sent to a flooded home to assist, but when the occupants weren’t there they looked for others who needed help and came across an elderly couple. The husband had recently undergone a triple bypass, making an evacuation from their water-soaked home very difficult.
“We went there to provide blessings but we left feeling blessed,” Noah’s mom Shari Macfawn said. “It was an amazing experience and when we came upon these people it was special because they didn’t have anyone else to assist. We were able to help them start rebuilding their lives.”
Noah MacFawn, who has plans to play college golf, will remember the human interactions in Texas more than anything else.
“The people were surprised that we came so far to help and were very grateful,” MacFawn said. “When we had to leave on Friday, it was very sad and the whole experience really started to hit home for me.”
Sigsbee qualifies
Shane Sigsbee shot 69 and was low medalist in the U.S. Mid-Amateur qualifier at Fairbanks Ranch Country Club in Rancho Sante Fe, California. The U.S. Mid-Amateur is scheduled for October 7-12 at Capital City Golf Club and Atlanta National Golf Club in Atlanta.
Deals of the week
— Become a member at TPC Summerlin before September 24 and get two months without dues. TPC Summerlin is the host course of the PGA Tour’s Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.
— The annual Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort Players Advantage Card is now available. Sign up by September 30 and get back 10 percent of the purchase price in green fees credit. The card offers annual discounts and other benefits.
Glow in the dark golf
The annual Golf Summerlin Glow Ball night golf event is scheduled for October 14 at Eagle Crest. The unique event benefits Families for Effective Autism Treatment. Visit GolfSummerlin.com for details.
Stars on, off course
Comedian Kevin Hart took some swings at Topgolf Las Vegas last weekend.
The golf notebook appears each Thursday. Freelance writer Brian Hurlburt is a two-time author who has covered golf in Las Vegas for more than two decades. He can be reached at bhurlburt5@gmail.com or @LVGolfInsider.
Calendar
Friday-Sunday: UNLV men’s golf, Fighting Illini Invitational, Olympia Fields, Ill.
Monday-Wednesday: Major Series of Putting qualifier, TaylorMade Golf Experience
Sept. 22: SNGA Tour, Coyote Springs
Sept. 22, 23: UNLV men’s golf, William H. Tucker, Albuquerque, N.M.
Sept. 23: Major Series of Putting regional, final
Sept. 30: Lakeshore Open, Phil Tom Residence
Oct. 6: Simon Keith Foundation tournament, Revere
Oct. 7: Par for the Cure, Bear’s Best
Oct. 9, 10: UNLV women’s golf, Betsy Rawls Invitational, Austin, Texas
Oct. 21: Bower golf tournament benefiting school-based clinic, Wildhorse
Oct. 22-24: UNLV women’s golf Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown, Boulder Creek
Oct. 26, 27: Las Vegas Golf Hall of Fame Weekend, Las Vegas National, TPC Summerlin
Oct. 26, 27: Las Vegas City Senior Amateur, Las Vegas Golf Club
Oct. 26-28: Lake Las Vegas Classic, Topgolf, Reflection Bay
Oct. 27-Nov. 5: Major Series of Putting, MSOP arena
Oct. 28, 29: Las Vegas City Amateur, Las Vegas Golf Club
Oct. 30: Charley Hoffman Foundation Pro-Am, TPC Summerlin
Oct. 30-31: UNLV women’s golf, Trinity Forest Invitational, Dallas
Nov. 1: Shriners Pro-Am
Nov. 2-5: Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, TPC Summerlin
Pro schedules
PGA Tour
What: BMW Championship
Where: Lake Forest, Illinois; Conway Farms Golf Course (7,208 yards, par 71).
When: Thursday, Friday, noon-4 p.m. (Golf Channel). Saturday, 10 a.m.-noon (Golf Channel), noon-3 p.m. (NBC). Sunday, 9-11 a.m. (Golf Channel), 11 a.m.-3 p.m. (NBC).
Purse: $8.75 million (First prize: $1,575,000).
Defending champion: Dustin Johnson.
Last tournament: Justin Thomas won the Dell Technologies Championship.
FedEx Cup leader: Jordan Spieth.
Next week: Tour Championship.
LPGA Tour
What: Evian Championship
Where: Evian-les-Bains, France; Evian Resort Golf Course (6,47 yards, par 71).
When: Thursday, Friday, 2-5 a.m., 6:30-9:30 a.m. (Golf Channel). Saturday, 3:30-8:30 a.m. (Golf Channel). Sunday, 5-9 a.m. (Golf Channel).
Purse: $3.65 million (First prize: $547,500).
Defending champion: In Gee Chun.
Last week: Lexi Thompson won the Indy Women in Tech Championship.
LPGA money leader: Sung Hyun Park.
Next tournament: New Zealand Women’s Open, Sept. 28-Oct. 1.
PGA Tour Champions
What: Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship
Where: Victoria, B.C.; Bear Mountain Resort (Mountain Course/6,915 yards, par 71).
When: Friday, 4-6 p.m. (Golf Channel). Saturday, 3-6 p.m. (Golf Channel). Sunday, 3-6 p.m. (Golf Channel).
Purse: $2.5 million (First prize: $375,000).
Defending champion: Colin Montgomerie.
Last week: Colin Montgomerie won the Japan Airlines Championship.
Charles Schwab Cup leader: Bernhard Langer.
