By Heidi Simmons
When most non-profits get together for a golf tournament, it’s to draw big crowds and raise big money. But on this perfect day in May, with temperatures in the low 70s and a cool breeze blowing over the ponds and putting greens of the Annenberg Retreat at Sunnylands, the tournament is simply for big fun.
“Today is about sports and wellness,” said Tonya Chiu, For Your Independence instructor and participating coach with Desert Arc. “It’s about getting outdoors and being active.”
Desert Arc is a non-profit organization serving mentally disabled adults by providing social services, life skills, vocational training and employment opportunities. This is the sixth annual Desert Arc – First Tee Golf Tournament matching Desert Arc clients and First Tee members. The First Tee is a non-profit that uses the game of golf to develop character and teach life-enhancing values to young people.
Madelyn Gonzalez is from Indio and has been golfing with First Tee for five years. She’s ten years old. She and her friend, Aiyanna Co are playing with six Desert Arc clients and their coaches.
“It’s very special,” said Gonzalez. “I like thinking about the presidents who have played this course. It’s fun. The disabled players are hitting long shots and are getting better and better every hole.”
Co lives in La Quinta and has been playing golf for four year with First Tee. She plays four times a week. Co is also ten years old and hopes to someday play golf professionally. “It’s an honor to play here,” said Co. “Everyone has a good time and I’ve learned that the disabled can have a passion for golf.”
Behind the pink walls of the Annenberg 200 acre estate, 36 Desert Arc clients, their coaches and 18 First Tee players walked the course. Across the beautiful grounds, nine groups played Scramble golf using the nine-hole course as they pleased. Scramble makes the game fun to play because anything goes and everyone is a winner.
On a putting green, Barbara Baillie, 50, waits her turn. She approached me and introduced herself, offering her hand and shaking mine with a strong grip. “I’ve been playing golf for 25 years,” Baillie proudly said, getting confirmation of the years from her Desert Arc coach. “I started with Dennis Foster and watched golf on TV.”
Baillie lives in Palm Desert and has been a Desert Arc client for 25 years. When it’s her turn, she takes the shared putter from the last player and with relaxed control, confidence and ease, hits the ball straight into the hole. Turns out, Baillie regularly plays golf in the Special Olympics and has participated in all six of the Desert Arc-First Tee Tournaments.
This is the third time the tournament has been played at the Annenberg Retreat at Sunnylands. As part of their community outreach, the Annenberg foundation invited the tournament to the private course where world leaders and celebrities have played – most recently, President Obama.
Desert Arc and First Tee were the first organization in the estate’s history to play on the private course. Only two other groups – veterans and police – have since played on the sprawling grounds. The golf course is mainly reserved for those staying at the Annenberg Retreat.
Built in the 1960s, the estate was owned by Ambassador Walter Annenberg and his wife Leonore. After their death, they left the property intact to be used as a “Camp David West.” Its main focus is a place where the President of the United States and Secretary of State can bring together world leaders to promote peace and international agreement. The Annenbergs are entombed on the property.
“I know this would make my grandmother so happy,” said Leonore Deshong, a trustee and member of the Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands. “This is what she envisioned the property be used for: To help people and government, anything that makes the world a better place.”
Deshong’s mother, Diane, and brother, Howard, attend to the global events, while Deshong prefers the community outreach and programming. “My mom and brother do the high-level retreats, I do more community functions,” said Deshong. “I’m not into politicians. I think if you are going to use a foundation, it has to be a representation of everyone. Any group that can be helped, and to make a difference is what a foundation should be about. ”
Since the grounds became part of the Foundation, the family no longer personally uses the estate. Once a year, the trustees have a retreat to consider events and make plans. Deshong lives in Los Angeles and came to Sunnylands to oversee the Desert Arc-First Tee Tournament. “The event is a good growing experience and this is a healing place,” said Deshong. “To help the children and to help the adults is very important to me.” Deshong gave credit to all the people who made the event happen, grateful for all they do. She does not golf, but loves to watch people play the game. Deshong has fond memories of her grandparents playing the course.
“We look forward to this event all year long,” said Mitch Blumberg, Deputy Executive Director of Desert Arc. “First Tee is a great organization. Kids volunteer and are matched with our clients. I love that part about the tournament. The kids are phenomenal.”
This tournament has nothing to do with fundraising for the organization. The Italian Festival, held every November, is Desert Arc’s biggest fundraiser. Last year 6,000 people attended.
Part of the Desert Arc program is finding jobs for their clients and Sunnylands has four Desert Arc placements – a landscape crew and a person in the visitor’s center.
Marcos Mesa, Lenox Lopez and Ulisses Cervantes work with Henry Smith their Desert Arc Landscape Instructor. They have been working together as a team since 2011. They work five days a week, six hours a day. “It’s beautiful here,” said Cervantes. “It’s pretty cool. I like the peace and quiet. It’s a nice work environment.”
The crew works both on the estate and on the 15-acre Sunnylands Visitor Center and Gardens. They like cutting grass and using the weed eater. They are given a task and enjoy getting the work done.
The tournament included lunch and awards for the participants.
Tall and skinny, Phillip Duval, 22 stood facing the flag, made a firm hit sending the ball directly at the hole only just missing it – a little too much speed. The group all cheered “Good job!” Duval has never played golf before. When I asked him what he thinks about golf and being on the course at Sunnylands, the Desert Arc client said with a smile, “It’s pretty good.”
Photos By Lani Garfield
