Reno-Tahoe Open

The Reno-Tahoe Open along with EMPLOYERS, a Reno-based group of companies providing workers' compensation insurance and services to select, small businesses, seeks the northern Nevada community’s help in collecting new and used golf clubs and balls to benefit members of the United States Armed Forces. Donations are currently being accepted at Golf Headquarters, located at 4112 Kietzke Lane in Reno, through July 31, 2009 to be sent to armed forces for use at golf courses and driving ranges in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Clubs for Armed Forces program was developed by EMPLOYERS’ General Counsel Leonard Ormsby, a 25-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard, together with tournament organizers in an effort to give back to those who serve this country. 

“We believe it’s important to do what we can to support our troops fighting in the Middle East,” said Michael Stearns, Reno-Tahoe Open tournament director.  “We offer free admission into the tournament to active military personnel and their dependents but this year we wanted to take it a step further – we wanted to give them a little piece of home as our way of saying ‘thank you’ – and what better way than with a round of golf.” 

To kick off the Clubs for the Armed Forces program, Golf Headquarters and the Reno-Tahoe Open bring KKOH-AM radio out to the store Monday, May 25 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. to help spread the word and encourage donations. All donations accepted by July 31, 2009 will be flown overseas Aug. 9, 2009 after completing a fly-over during the trophy presentation on the final day of the Reno-Tahoe Open. 

“The demand for recreational equipment by members of our armed forces is very high as some of these people are over there for months or even years,” added Ormsby. “Knowing what it’s like to be away from home for long periods of time without family or friends, I thought this would be a great way to raise our soldiers’ spirits and let them know how much we appreciate what they’ve given up for us.”  

Donations of new or used golf clubs, club sets and balls can be dropped off at Golf Headquarters, open Monday - Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Golf Headquarters is also offering a $10 discount to those donating complete sets of irons and $5 discounts for drivers and fairway woods. All clubs must be manufactured after 1990.