Many NIRSA members were eagerly anticipating the return—after a couple years on hiatus—of the NIRSA Foundation Golf Tournament this past March at Raven Golf Club in Phoenix. While we weren’t able to hit the links together at one of our profession’s most popular fundraising experiences, NIRSA is excited to bring you an opportunity to golf with your NIRSA family this fall while also raising money for the future of campus recreation: Introducing the NIRSA Golf and Give initiative!

What is NIRSA’s Golf and Give? This September, we’re encouraging you to get out to your local golf course (putt-putt, executive, disc golf, 9-holes or full 18) for a round of golf, share your (social-distance-friendly) photos or videos from your round on social media using the #NIRSAGolfAndGive hashtag, and make a donation to the NIRSA Foundation general fund!

“The virtual Golf and Give event allows NIRSA members and friends to play their own round of golf, socially-distanced of course, at a golf course near them and then provide an optional donation to support the NIRSA Foundation. We know a virtual golf event can never replace the excitement and commoradary generated by an in-person event, but in times like these we adjust and make the best of it.  We’re hopeful that many NIRSA members can participate in this virtual golf event and support the NIRSA Foundation at the same time. I plan to take my son and daughter out to play when I participate.” – Mike Widen, Director of Recreational Sports at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor and Chair of the 2020 NIRSA Golf and Give initiative.

About the NIRSA Foundation General Fund

Whether you decide to donate $5 for every birdie (or bogey), or ad-on a couple of mulligans (suggested donation $10) for your round, your tax-deductible donation to the NIRSA Foundation General Fund supports programs like the COVID-19 relief membership fee waiver, and equity, diversity, and inclusion or health and wellbeing initiatives, beyond the scholarship opportunities, scholarly research, and student officials development support that are hallmarks of the NIRSA Foundation.

See related: “NIRSA provides COVID-19 relief for members facing hardship”

So, go on; chip in and support the future of campus recreation this month, when you join #NIRSAGolfAndGive. You can put NIRSA on course to do something special! Wedge are you waiting fore? Par-take in the 2020 NIRSA Golf and Give and you’ll help give future rec professionals a slice of opportunity.

Challenge your NIRSA colleagues to join you in a virtual foursome and don’t forget to share your scorecards and pictures using the #NIRSAGolfAndGive hashtag.

  • For more information, contact NIRSA’s Director of Philanthropy, Kim Holmes.