On Aug. 19 at Tedesco Country Club, 120 women teed off for a cause that was as meaningful as it was fun.
The Marblehead club hosted its annual Swing Fore Pink golf outing: a women-led, women-only event that raised more than $100,000 for
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
Since its 2012 inception, the outing has grown into one of New England’s premier women-only tournaments, surpassing $600,000 in total funds raised.
For organizer Kacy Jauron, the event hits close to home.
“I’ve been on the committee for a number of years and I think, with cancer, you always know someone who has it, and this past year, two of my best friends had just gone through breast cancer diagnoses and I just lost my dad (Dick) in February from melanoma,” she said. “It just made it that much more special to take part in this.”
The event featured a full field of golfers, and touches of pink were everywhere — from pin flags to matching outfits worn by golfers and Tedesco staff.
The club’s golf professionals supported the cause in their own way, offering drives on the l-o-n-g par-5 10th hole for $10 per attempt. That alone raised $1,120.
Head PGA Professional Ryan Train noted how the event has transformed through the years.
“It’s progressed a lot in the last 10-12 years, since its inception.
(At the start, money raised was) $3,000-4,000 a year. Now, (that’s grown to) $100,000-$125,000 a year. It’s excellent to see the camaraderie, the support, and the turnout that the ladies have for each other. We were told last year that this is the largest women-only golf tournament for Dana-Farber in New England.”
For committee member Mary Abramson the heart of the event is its women-led spirit.
“It’s very special to us that it’s an all-women-led event. … It’s really special that this is organized and led by women. It’s a very special thing to me, but it’s also a special thing for all the players who come back every single year. They love it so much that they come back to play in it.”
Jauron agreed, noting how the sense of community and purpose keeps the event thriving.
“I think a really cool thing about this, specifically, is that it’s organized by and played by women,” she said. “It’s amazing to see how the staff at Tedesco jumps in and does this type of thing. They do the pro drives, they wear their pink with matching outfits, there are pink flags for the pin – it’s really nice to see.”
Even after more than a decade, the passion and dedication hasn’t waned. In fact, it seems to grow stronger each year.
“It’s amazing,” Jauron said. “I think, every year, the membership really steps up. It’s fun because we’re having more people that are being touched by cancer in different ways who are willing and want to be involved and participate.”
