A slew of sports greats came out to play in this year’s Mardy Fish Windsor Golf Tournament, eager to support their friend and the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation he established 19 years ago. The foundation provides grants to nonprofits and school groups so that children, particularly the underserved, can participate in sports, fitness, nutrition and enrichment programs.
A front that pushed through brought gusty wind and a rain squall, but after a break for lunch at the Windsor Club, the sun came out and golfers who hadn’t finished all 18 holes could do so.
“It’s fantastic. It seems like every year we get more and more sponsors and more and more people involved,” said Fish, who resides in Los Angeles with his wife and children.
“We do great things for the kids around here in Indian River County; shaping their future is what we’re trying to do. We’ve kept it here on purpose. It’s where I grew up and it’s the place that shaped me,” he added. He paid tribute to his parents, Sally and Tom Fish, and Lynn Southerly, MFCF executive director, for “working their butts off” to keep it going.
“I’m just thankful I can come back; it’s a great excuse to see old friends and family. We’ve got some great players out here and we’re just having a blast.”
Among the notable players were golfers Mark Calcavecchia, a 13-time PGA Tour winner, and Marina Alex, who has two LPGA wins. Others were tennis players Thomas Blake, recently named director of performance tennis at Saddlebrook Resort; and Peter Bertran, Dominican Republic Davis Cup player and winner of the MFCF’s 2025 USTA Pro Circuit Tennis Tournament.
Randy Walker, MFCF Tennis Championship tournament director, remarked on the number of tennis players, including Mardy, who play golf.
“I think a lot of the tennis players still have that competitive edge to them and they want to exercise that in other ways that are not as physically taxing,” said Walker.
“Mardy was known for having a great two-handed backhand and that’s why he plays golf lefty. It’s like a low backhand; it’s natural. You’ll see Ivan Lendl, who plays here, he also plays golf lefty because it’s like a backhand,” he added.
“The money we raise now, along with the tennis tournament, will help us pay for our summer and into next fall programming. We’re now reaching just under 4,000 kids. We granted out close to $100,000 in the fall,” said Southerly.
“We’ve got a long season of tennis and our wild card event, which will lead up to our tennis tournament,” she added.
Wild Cards include the Wild Card Tournament at Sea Oaks Beach & Country Club, the Youth Guidance King of the Hill Final at the Boulevard, the Qualifying Wild Card Tournament at Vero Beach Tennis & Fitness Club, and the Main Draw Doubles Wild Card Tournament at the Moorings Yacht and Country Club.
Board member Peter Kendall, a lifelong tennis player, got involved with MFCF in 2018.
“Back when I started, we were just over 2,000 children and now it’s double that. It shows the power of more event programming and getting the message out,” said Kendall.
“My wife, Ellen, and I have been down here for almost 15 years. We realize that the barrier island is characterized by considerable wealth, but if you go several miles west, there are really families and children in need,” he added.
The 2026 MFCF Tennis Championship, a $15,000 USTA Pro Circuit event, will take place May 4-10 at a new venue, the Sea Oaks Beach & Tennis Club.
For more information, visit MardyFishChildrensFoundation.org.
Photos by Joshua Kodis
