October a fun time for golf and to help charities

The Justin Harper Memorial Golf Tournament will be held on Friday, Oct. 8, 2021 at the New Mexico State University Golf Course. The format is a four-player scramble, with $100 per player ($400 per team) registration that includes green fees with cart and range balls. There will be a morning shotgun start at 7:30 am and an afternoon shotgun start at 1:00 pm. The event is presented by Sisbarro Buick and GMC and Citizens Bank, in benefit of Boys and Girls Club of Las Cruces. Single hole sponsorships are $100. Donations can be made online at www.bgclascruces.org. For additional information please call 575-526-1519.

Just a note on the legacy of Justin Harper. Mr. Harper joined Citizens Bank in 1988 and became president and CEO in 1996. During that tenure, Mr. Harper was dedicated to the community bank philosophy of giving back to the community in which we live, not only through donations, but with civic leadership. Boys and Girls Club of Las Cruces was one of the organizations to which he was committed as a great supporter and advocate, serving as a board member for some time. Mr. Harper passed unexpectedly in October 2014. A Year later the tournament was named for him, as his legacy and in honor of his commitment to the community and its young people.

Safe Haven Animal Sanctuary is hosting the Putts Fore Paws Charity Golf Tournament on Thursday, Oct. 14 at Sonoma Ranch Golf Course, celebrating its 25^th anniversary of pet adoption services in Las Cruces. Registration for a four-person team of $550 includes the 18-hole golf event, a sack lunch, buffet dinner and tournament awards. For non-golfers a separate $35 ticket includes a dinner buffet and live music by Alison Reynolds. A silent auction and a cash bar will be available. Purchase can be made online at www.shaspets.com.

The mission of Safe Haven is “to seek permanent, responsible homes for abandoned cats and dogs while caring for them in a no-kill environment, and to promote humane principles and behavior.” Safe Haven also has a thrift store located at 840-D El Paseo in Las Cruces. I have been a big supporter of Safe Haven for the work they do; eight of our golden retrievers over the years have been rescue dogs (adopted).

        On Friday, Oct. 22, the New Mexico State University Baseball Golf Tournament is scheduled for Picacho Hills Country Club. A four-person team registration fee is $500 which includes breakfast and Bloody Mary bar at 7:15 a.m., lunch and brews at noon and nacho bar with happy hour at 5:00 p.m. The tournament presenting sponsor of this amazing event is Ms. Marci Dickerson, owner of The Game and The Game II restaurants and sports bars and full catering services. As you may notice by the food and beverage schedule, there will be an 8:00 a.m. morning shotgun flight, and a 1:00 p.m. afternoon flight. Hole sign supporting sponsors are $100, and banner sign supporting sponsors are $500. You are requested to make checks payable to “Diamond Club.” But wait! There’s more. The next day following the golf scramble, on Saturday, Oct. 23, guests are invited to the NMSU Alumni Baseball Game at 10:00 a.m. at Presley Askew Field on the NMSU campus. Following immediately after the ballgame will be a hosted alumni barbecue.

        I had a chance to catch up with Mike Kirby, head coach of Aggie baseball (now in his third year), who informed me that many Aggie baseball players will be at the golf tournament, “working both shifts,” to give thanks to loyal supporters and so that folks can put a face with the uniform number. He shared that many of his players are participating in a “reading campaign” in our elementary schools where they sit down with the kids and share reading books. Kirby mentioned that he is assertively recruiting local ball players for his team, partly because the parents stay involved, and also he likes to “keep the best players from Las Cruces in Las Cruces.”

To register: https://camps.jumpforward.com/NMSUbaseballcamps/Register/Index/15855.

Dr. Charlie Blanchard is a licensed psychologist specializing in sports and leadership. Contact him at docblanchard71@gmail.com.