MARK BATTLE

Dear friends and family, as most of you who know me can attest, I have more than a casual love affair with the game of golf! To me, it’s the greatest game in the world and it has provided me with some of the most fulfilling and emotional highs and lows one could ever imagine. It truly is the game of life, with each round representing 18 individual challenges one must navigate. Not only must one have the physical ability to succeed on the golf course, but more important possibly, they must also possess incredible intestinal fortitude to fend off the mental challenges the game presents just as the challenges we face in life does!

That said, I am participating in the RDGA Foundation’s – Marathon of Golf at Monroe GC on June 24th to raise money for our RDGA Foundation of which, I am a Board member. Our foundation is critical in supporting all of the RDGA programming that is geared towards bringing this great game to as many people as we can, especially our junior golfers, the marginalized and those in our most underserved communities.

The vision of the RDGA states that we are “Driven to a Higher Purpose.” The Truth is, "We are all called to a Higher Purpose." I hope you will answer that call and support me in my “Drive” to raise $5000.00 myself for this important fundraiser for the RDGA Foundation. I will attempt to play 100 holes of golf all in one day in order to accomplish this lofty goal. I know, poor me, right? To help get the “Round” started, I will have the "Honors" and “Tee off” first with my own pledge of $500.00. I hope many of you that I have come to know playing this great game will be in my “Gallery” cheering me on! While it certainly is an aggressive challenge for someone my age, I simply refuse to “Let the Old Man In!” Won’t you please “Chip” in with any financial support you deem appropriate so that we can “Putt” as many new golfers as we can on these Fairways called Life? Any donor making a gift of $250 will receive a free Nike Golf hat and gifts $500 and above will receive a free Nike Tour Polo golf shirt, just like the one Scottie Sheffler wears on Tour! I will keep you posted on my efforts for the day. Hopefully, I won't be recovering at Strong Memorial Hospital! Thank you so much for your support!!!! God Bless you all!

Mark L. Battle

RDGA Past President & RDGA Foundation Board Member