by Soucie
While you people are pissing and moaning and beating each other up, let me remind you that the point is to give. You need to give what you can.
PR or no PR, none of the Gulf Coast people nor I give a rat's ass. It doesn't matter if you've given almost a billion to other charities or if your likeness was on the cover of SI, or if nobody knew at all. These people need assistance no matter how it is wrapped, and it needs to be directed to them.
And yes the PGA enjoys the PR, it's how you grow the game. And yes the federal government has disaster response for every state - would you like a list of responses I have been to?
And yes I would like to see the people with the resources to give more to in fact give more. If helping doesn't give you a charge maybe the tax benefits will.
So shut up and give, and if you don't want to give, just shut up.
What have I done personally for the victims? I have spent weeks in the Gulf Coast since September and will probably spend Christmas there too, helping.
The person you help today may just turn up in your foursome tomorrow.

by Bob Davies
We are sponsoring a Celebrity Fundraising Golf Tournament in San Diego November 27 - December 3, 2005. The tournament is on Thursday December 1. You have 3 choices; Come for the week with accommodations and golf, play in the tournament and attend the reception, or attend the Celebrity reception and Sports Memoribillia Auction on November 30. Check it out at www.can-am-tours.com. We look forward to seeing you there.

by Heather Phillips
just wanted to let people know a couple of things one of our "golf" clients did to help out the victims of Katrina. In late August, Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday and Martins' PGA TOUR Superstore held the PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur in Myrtle Beach, S.C. On the last night, Thursday September 1 Martin’s PGA TOUR Superstore held a “Closest –to-the-pin” contest in their golf simulators that were stationed in the Myrtle Beach Convention Center, which is called the world’s largest 19th hole. Golfers paid a $5 entry fee, which went towards the relief fund and volunteers were standing at all the exits with buckets for guests to make donations as they were leaving. On Friday September 2 Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday and Martin’s PGA TOUR Superstore presented The American Red Cross with a check for the Hurricane Katrina relief fund.
Also, the PGA TOUR Superstore in Atlanta, Ga. held “Closest-to-the-pin” contest the weekend of September 2 through September 4 using the golf simulators in the Atlanta store. Again, customers paid a $5 entry fee and donations were collected. All proceeds went to The American Red Cross.

by Mark Bryson
Why does everything have to be about the spotlight? Have you considered that a lot of people will donate that won't be recogonized publicly? The PGA Tour and the PGA of America do terrific things everyday...the difference? They could really care less if you approve of the donation amount or what program they are running. The PR machines that you mentioned have one thing on their minds, how can I be noticed.

by Kris Atchley
First, sorry to differ with wadodger, but the principle of federal responsibility for natural disaster relief is firmly established in law. Direct federal participation in disaster relief began in 1865 when the federal government helped freed African American slaves survive flooding along the Mississippi. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was made the lead agency. The Corps undertook its first formal disaster relief mission during floods on the Mississippi in 1882. The Corps also led the response to the Johnstown PA flood of 1889 and the San Francisco earthquake of 1906. After disastrous floods on the Mississippi in 1927, Congress passed the 1928 Flood Control Act, placing the Corps in charge of flood control on the Mississippi and its tributaries. Congress formally established that flood control was a responsibility of the federal government in the 1936 Flood Control Act, and the Corps directed all of its districts to develop flood emergency plans in 1937. The 1944 Flood Control Act expanded the Corp’s responsibilities to the Missouri, and the 1950 Federal Disaster Relief Act re-emphasized the lead role of the Corps in flood disasters. Congress broadened federal disaster relief responsibility in 1974 in the aftermath of Hurricane Camille in 1969 and Tropical Storm Agnes in 1972. In 1988, Congress authorized FEMA to provide for all disasters regardless of the cause. (Reference: http://www.hq.usace.army.mil/history/brief2.htm)
Second, Mark Nessmith makes a valid point. The PGA and its member players have indeed compiled a long record of generous contributions to charities. However, all sports and their organizing institutions depend heavily on establishing and maintaining a positive public image. Golf is no exception. It constantly has to fight its elitist image. The PGA will be judged, not by what it did last year and last month, but by what it does now to relieve suffering and help people get back on their feet. A simple instinct for self preservation, not to mention a sense of what is the right thing to do, should lead PGA leaders to make sure that the tour responds generously and that its efforts are widely publicized.
My wife kept insisting last weekend that there was no mention of Hurricane Katrina relief efforts during the broadcasts of golf on TV, whereas all news stations were covering the disaster 24/7 and everyone else seemed to be involved in relief efforts. I insisted that I was sure the PGA had organized a response that she must just have missed. Yet, what do I find on the PGA Internet home page? The main story is a breathless alert that the increase in oil prices will lead to a hike in the cost of golf balls. Oh dear! There’s a report that the upcoming Southern Farm Bureau Classic in Mississippi on October 6-9 is in doubt because trees are down on the course. How terrible! Another report tells us Sergio Garcia was fined for kicking a signboard at the European Masters. Does anybody care? Is this important? Finally, way down at the bottom of the list, it says, “PGA of America teams with other golf organizations for hurricane relief.” Shouldn’t this have been the featured headline story on the PGA home page, with photos? To be fair, although the language is still too detached and unemotional, the PGA effort is becoming more organized, concrete and creative. Extra tickets will be sold for the Solheim Cup to raise funds, and the use of funds will be determined in consultation with Presidents Bush and Clinton. But could more be done? The PGA is not a professional relief agency that can actually house and feed victims. But one does wonder if the effort could show more heart and imagination? Double the $5 million target. Get popular southerners like John Daly, Davis Love and others directly involved face-to-face to lift the spirits of the victims. Hold a series of charity pro-ams with all funds going to relief.

by wadodger
Nice dig at the feds while you're at it. I suppose you want the federal government to have a disaster response for EVERY U.S. city. That's what state and local governments are for. Pay attention to the civics segment during your next snarky writing class.

by Paul Underwood
Your right on the money, I would like to see guys like Tiger Woods write a check for $1M to the Red Cross or Salvation Army and not wait for the others to pony up. The big guys can well afford it.

by Jim Zeh
Who put you in charge of "how much to give" for the cause? There must be something better for you to write about! Like how every donation is needed and a big help, or where is the money going and how is it being used.
How much have you donated?

by Jeff Diehl
Who the hell do you think you are talking bad about the PGA the way you do when it is golf that is almost at a billion dollars in charity money given. Let me ask you what you have done personally for the victims of this natural disaster? What have you done?

by Dennis Collet
Right on Jeff:- Whats with this imbecile. To criticize the one segment of the sporting community that contributes more money to charity than all the other sports combined is a s
mall, petty, and potentially damaging comment. I think he should waste no time in posting an apology to all the golf associations and their golfers. We should be so lucky to have another organization as generous as the golf tours have been for many many years..
Mr. Nessmith, shake your head and listen to the emptiness..

by Ivory Rubin
I also agree with Jeff. Mark's article dismisses the $966 million dollars already donated to charity. It is very likely that some of the hurricane victims have received services from some of the charities supported by the PGA. Remember Mark, a majority of the people we see on TV were poor ,destitute, and infirmed prior to Katrina...which is why they were unable to leave New Orleans. Now it is time for the rest of us to step up to the plate and help our fellow Americans in their time of suffering.