PGA Pro Rick Donahue needs your hlp
Donation protected
Met Rick at work. He's a resident at a facility I take care of. Doing some repairs in his apartment and couldn't help noticing all the golf memorabilia and pictures of some legends like Palmer and others. I had to know the story behind them. He proceeded to tell me about his life. How he was a two sport lettermen in college. How he became a pro golfer and all that came with that. Then he started telling me how he ended up here. In 2005 just before he left to join the senior tour he was giving a golf lesson at a local course and a young kid swinging a driver wildly hit him in the back of the head. This injury has caused major brain damage and has changed his life dramatically. Rick gets around with a walker and deals with memory loss and random seizures . He has taught one lesson in the last 15 months. He's also an insulin dependent type 2 diabetic. I'm hoping to help raise enough funds to cover a year of his rent. The $3000 would more than cover with a little extra for food. Please help me help this great guy who has given so much time to adults youth and his entire community. Here is Ricks Bio. Hometown; Whitefish, Montana College; University of Montana College highlights …..two sport
four year letterman 1977 Ed Chinske Award Winner (MVP) of golf team, Turned Professional in 1978.
•
1978 to 1980 Served as the assistant professional at Whitefish Lake Golf Club during the summer months then during the winters competed on both the International Professional Golf Tour (IGT) and the National Golfers of America Tour (NGA).
•
1980 to 1983 Served as Head Professional at Crystal Lakes Resort
in Northwest Montana during the summer Then hit the professional circuit in the off season.
•
Contestant 1980 in the 109th British Open Championship held at Muirfield in Scotland and in the 1980 Rolex Pro-am
in Geneva, Switzerland. Contestant in the 1981 South American Golf Tour and Competed on the Golden State Tour.
•
Overall from 1978 through 1983 I competed in 13 foreign countries.
•
Early in 1984 I became the Resident Club Professional then Director of Golf for Gainey Ranch Golf Club in Scottsdale
Arizona where I continued To compete in local Southwest mini-tours and state Opens returning back to Montana in 1987.
•
In 1987 I opened Rick Donahue’s Golf Academy and have operated such as an independent entity providing golf
instruction in an indoor environment As well as giving outdoor range and on-course instruction for a variety of courses throughout Montana.
•
During my Professional career I have had the opportunity to conduct golf clinics and exhibitions With the likes of Arnold Palmer, Fred Couples, Chi Chi Rodriguez, Jim Nelford, 1993 Women’s U.S. Open Champion Lauri Merten and others.
•
As a former member of the PGA I was active in Business and
Teaching seminars and served as a PGA Business School Instructor in 1985.
•
In1983 was the first Montanan to qualify for the Hudson Cup Team
which comprises the top 10 Playing Professionals in the Northwest PGA section.
•
For many years my Academy served as a Member Training Facility for the United States Golf Association. Having
been extremely active with junior golf since The late 1970’s I’ve worked with 15 junior state champions. Whitefish
High School, my Alma Mater, Since that time has had 19 Girls State Team Titles along With 9 Boys Team Championships.
•
Since 1992 I have served as a Teaching Professional at The Village Greens Golf Club in Kalispell, Montana,
and also provide my teaching service to an additional course in the Kalispell area - The Frontier Road House.
four year letterman 1977 Ed Chinske Award Winner (MVP) of golf team, Turned Professional in 1978.
•
1978 to 1980 Served as the assistant professional at Whitefish Lake Golf Club during the summer months then during the winters competed on both the International Professional Golf Tour (IGT) and the National Golfers of America Tour (NGA).
•
1980 to 1983 Served as Head Professional at Crystal Lakes Resort
in Northwest Montana during the summer Then hit the professional circuit in the off season.
•
Contestant 1980 in the 109th British Open Championship held at Muirfield in Scotland and in the 1980 Rolex Pro-am
in Geneva, Switzerland. Contestant in the 1981 South American Golf Tour and Competed on the Golden State Tour.
•
Overall from 1978 through 1983 I competed in 13 foreign countries.
•
Early in 1984 I became the Resident Club Professional then Director of Golf for Gainey Ranch Golf Club in Scottsdale
Arizona where I continued To compete in local Southwest mini-tours and state Opens returning back to Montana in 1987.
•
In 1987 I opened Rick Donahue’s Golf Academy and have operated such as an independent entity providing golf
instruction in an indoor environment As well as giving outdoor range and on-course instruction for a variety of courses throughout Montana.
•
During my Professional career I have had the opportunity to conduct golf clinics and exhibitions With the likes of Arnold Palmer, Fred Couples, Chi Chi Rodriguez, Jim Nelford, 1993 Women’s U.S. Open Champion Lauri Merten and others.
•
As a former member of the PGA I was active in Business and
Teaching seminars and served as a PGA Business School Instructor in 1985.
•
In1983 was the first Montanan to qualify for the Hudson Cup Team
which comprises the top 10 Playing Professionals in the Northwest PGA section.
•
For many years my Academy served as a Member Training Facility for the United States Golf Association. Having
been extremely active with junior golf since The late 1970’s I’ve worked with 15 junior state champions. Whitefish
High School, my Alma Mater, Since that time has had 19 Girls State Team Titles along With 9 Boys Team Championships.
•
Since 1992 I have served as a Teaching Professional at The Village Greens Golf Club in Kalispell, Montana,
and also provide my teaching service to an additional course in the Kalispell area - The Frontier Road House.
Organizer
Greg Gomes
Organizer
Whitefish, MT
