101525 GolfFoundationsDinner JoshuaKodis 002 — PHOTO BY JOSHUA KODIS

There is no question that Vero Beach is a golfer’s paradise, in large part thanks to the guests at the Founders Cup Wall of Honor Celebration Dinner at the Moorings Yacht and Country Club, hosted by the Indian River Golf Foundation.

Earlier in the fall, golfers had teed off at the Moorings at Hawk’s Nest during the event’s Community Golf Tournament, to which eight of the more elite middle and high school players in the IRGF Youth Golf programs had been invited to participate. A number of students also attended the dinner.

“These are the recipients of all the hard work that the founders went through to establish these golf facilities. We want them to see and hear firsthand how Hawk’s Nest and the Moorings came about and, hopefully, they’ll be inspired by that. We want to impress upon our youth players the value of community service,” said Roger Van Dyke, IRGF board president.

A former PGA professional, Van Dyke founded the IRGF in 2008 to make golf more accessible to all children in the community, and it has grown exponentially ever since.

IRGF programs include Players On-Course, Players On-Tour, and a new Players On-Line Virtual Golf Academy. All are grounded in the five pillars of IRGF: golf skills, course management, rules & etiquette, leadership & life skills, and self-care.

“We want to make everything with our youth inviting, helpful and meaningful. If we can satisfy those three, we’re on the right track,” said Van Dyke.

The Celebration Dinner was attended by a virtual Who’s Who of the Vero golf world, including seasoned golf professionals and instructors, course architects and superintendents, club managers and staff, as well as current and honorary IRGF board members.

“Thank you all for saying yes in the growth of youth golf,” said Van Dyke, before introducing this year’s honorees.

The first was Kim Gardner, LPGA, former assistant golf pro at Hawk’s Nest and now head golf professional at the Moorings Yacht and Country Club, who continues to be a significant influence on youth players.

Melanie Mark, who worked for the IRGF in afterschool golf training programs and retired as LPGA-USGA Girls Golf Site Director for the Treasure Coast, was honored for her service to the game of golf and community.

The third was Renie Calkin, to whom Van Dyke said, “I find it difficult to put together the words to describe my appreciation for your contributions to the game of golf.” A member of PGA of America since 1981, she serves on the IRGF Leadership team and as assistant coach of the Vero Beach High School Girls Golf Team.

A Commemorative Plaque was presented to Boris Gonzales on behalf of his late father, Jorge Gonzales, a founder of the Moorings Development in 1971 and its Pete Dye designed Moorings golf course. Van Dyke said Gonzales and wife Lenor were passionate about serving the game of golf, the community and Saint Edward’s School.

Sam Bell and wife Susie, and the late Bobby Briggs, represented by his wife Nancy, were honored as the co-founders of Hawks Nest Golf Club, now the Moorings Hawk’s Nest. Also in attendance were course architect Jim Fazio, founding members Dale and Matilde Sorensen, and Shelly Caldwell, wife of the late founding member Bill Caldwell.

“The youth of our community thank the vision and persistence of our founders this evening,” said Van Dyke, before an unveiling of the Founders Cup plaque, honoring contributors and community partners.

Several people spoke about the development of the Indian River Golf Foundation’s proposed Performance and Training Center at the Sandridge Golf Club, which will provide opportunities for future generations to introduce and develop skills to the game of golf.

Funding for the project was boosted by the Quail Valley Collegiate-Am. Don Meadows, director of golf at Quail Valley Golf Club, said that thanks to a matching gift from an anonymous donor and in partnership with Paul McGinley and the McGinley Foundation, $350,000 has been raised to support the proposed facility. Fundraising is ongoing for the project which is anticipated to cost around $4 million.

For more information, visit irgf.org.

Photos by Joshua Kodis