Grandfathers For Golf, a Hemet/San Jacinto-based nonprofit that teaches children to play golf at no cost, will hold its 16th Annual Memorial Tourney on Friday, March 13, at Soboba Springs Golf Course in San Jacinto. The tournament will begin with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. and will follow a four-person scramble format open to golfers of all skill levels.
The cost to participate is $150 per person, or $500 per foursome if payment is received by March 1, 2026. The discounted rate saves participants $100 per team, and entry fees are tax deductible. The field is limited to 144 players, and organizers expect the event to sell out.
Entry includes 18 holes of golf, food and trophies for first-, second- and third-place teams, as well as Long Drive and Closest to the Pin contests. Women and seniors age 70 and older will play from the silver senior tees, while all other participants will play from the blue tees. Golfers who do not have a foursome may register individually and will be placed on a team.
Participants may register by calling Jeff Riley, president of Grandfathers For Golf, at 951-604-1312 to pay by credit card. Payments may also be made via Zelle to Treasurer Keith Johnson using the phone number (951) 313-0990 or email gfg4kids@gmail.com. Checks made payable to Grandfathers For Golf may be mailed to P.O. Box 1818, Hemet, CA 92546. Checks postmarked before March 1 qualify for the early discount. Organizers ask that cash not be mailed but note it may be paid at the event.
The Memorial Tournament, formerly known as the Marty Finn Memorial, is the organization’s only annual fundraiser. Grandfathers For Golf operates entirely through volunteers, with no paid staff and no fees charged to participating students.
For more than 20 years, the organization has served children in the Hemet and San Jacinto area, providing free golf instruction along with lessons in sportsmanship, etiquette and teamwork. Each child in the program receives a golf bag, clubs, balls, a uniform and instruction at no cost.
