Make new friends and keep the old; some may be silver, but man’s best friend is gold. There’s no party like a golden retriever party.On Saturday, the Southern Arizona Golden Retriever Rescue will host it’s annual Out of the Ruff for Goldens Charity Golf Tournament at the El Conquistador Country Club in Oro Valley.
Golfers are expected to have a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. after registration at 7 a.m. SAGRR’s golden retrievers will be directly outside the pro-shop from 7-8:30 a.m.
“The dogs will be there to wish the golfers golden luck as they head to the course,” said Joyce Sanford, the president of SAGRR and co-chair of the tournament.
Two years ago, Sanford wrote the book “Goldenlocks and Her Three Homes,” featuring Goldenlocks, a golden retriever, in search for her forever home.
“The book is a collaboration of SAGRR’s dogs,” Sanford said.
SAGRR’s mission is to rescue and re-home golden retrievers. The organization has many other events, such as gift-wrapping with dogs at Christmas and the SAGRR pool party that helps with the funding for the dogs.
“All the money made funds for the vet bills and training classes for the dogs,” Sanford said.
The nonprofit organization began in 2011 when volunteers of the Arizona Golden Retriever Rescue noticed there was a golden retriever-loving population large enough to establish the SAGRR, according to Sanford. She said the organization now has around 100 volunteers. Since then, SAGRR has made a difference in the golden retriever’s legacy, re-homing, fostering and rescuing the breed.
“They definitely are a special breed,” said Mariah Driggs, a SAGRR volunteer. “My favorite thing about them is that they smile. Goldens really smile.”
An estimated 17 teams are expected to compete in the tournament on Saturday. There will also be a silent auction, trivia games and a raffle. First place will be awarded a set of glass coasters with SAGRR’s dog pictures embedded within them, according to Sanford.
“It’s funny- — second place gets golden retriever head covers, but last place gets cat head covers,” Driggs said.
SAGRR will also raffle off the new 2015 Ford Mustang in November, but the car is expected to be at the golf course this weekend. Raffle tickets are $25 each, and are now available to purchase.
The generous donation of the vehicle was made by Jim Click Automotive Team, and represented by the public relations agency, Russell Public Communications. The company has donated several of its cars to nonprofit organizations in Tucson, including SAGRR, according to Lanae Lovrien, Russell Public’s administrative assistant.
“It’s great to help out such a great organization,” Lovrien said.
A heart of gold may be as rare as a hole in one, but SAGRR is a champion in finding that happily ever after forever home for so many of its dogs. The organization dedicates their time to ensure these loving creatures get the care and compassion they deserve. The tournament is expected to leave everyone having a golden time.
To participate in Saturday’s golf tournament, the cost for one player is $95 and $360 for four players. Registration is available online at sagrr.org.
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