It is time to dust off those irons, spit-polish that driver and pick up that putter for the annual Quail Run Ladies 9-Hole Pink Ribbon Golf Tournament Fundraiser at the Quail Run Golf Course, 9774 Alabama Ave. The fundraiser will be Thursday, Dec. 7, so there is still time to sign up as a sponsor or player.

Last year’s event raised more than $7,000 for breast cancer and this year’s goal is to raise $12,000 for Breast Believe, a breast awareness campaign of The Larry Fitzgerald Foundation. Fitzgerald, a star NFL football player with ties to Arizona, launched Breast Believe in 2022. According to its website, the organization’s goal is to “educate communities about early detection, prevention, symptoms, treatments, resources and access surrounding a breast cancer diagnoses.” Visit thelarryfitzgeraldfoundation.org/pages/breast-believe for more information.

Although the tournament is fun in the sun, the goal is very serious. Just this year, more than 300,000 people have been diagnosed with breast cancer, 90 percent of those diagnosed were women, 10 percent men.

Each year, the Quail Run Ladies 9-Hole Golf League has sponsored a Pink Ribbon Tournament and since 2012 has raised more than $50,000 to help people in their fight against this mind and body-crippling disease. Throughout those years, we have seen positive results with early diagnoses and treatment and the Quail Run Ladies 9-Hole Golf League is proud of the role it has played in drawing attention and much-needed donations to the cause.

There are two shotgun starts on the day of the tournament, at 8 and 10:30 a.m., and there are plenty of challenges with everything from the drive closest to the pin, the most accurate drive, the longest first putt on the green and the longest drive. Each T-time will begin with a parade of pink to honor breast cancer survivors and those who have lost the battle, so individuals can decorate themselves and their golf car in pink. In addition, golfers can purchase two mulligans and two “magic putts for $20. For $10, each participant can hire a pro-golfer, who will be on site, to smack the ball on the long par 5-hole, number 2.

After a morning of golf, there will be a catered lunch provided by A.J.’s Catering. During the luncheon, tournament officials will recognize all those women who have survived breast cancer. Last year, Marilyn LeClair of Sun City celebrated 35 years cancer free. In addition to cash prizes for all those golf champions, there will be a raffle of gift boxes and cards.

A sponsor donation of $100 gets a company’s name on one hole, $250 gets and individual or company name on three holes and $500 and $750 gets a name on six and nine holes, respectively. A $1,000 donation is rewarded with a sponsorship banner displayed at the course, while a $2,500 donation gets a company’s banner displayed at the luncheon venue.

For more information about a sponsorship contact Sue Madden at 480-606-8946. To join in the tournament and swing that club call Linda Liang at 603-252-8511.