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Representatives of the Links Ladies of Nags Head Golf Links presented checks on August 1 totaling $48,615.59 to Outer Banks Health and The Outer Banks Relief Foundation for their programs assisting area women fighting breast and reproductive cancers.

On Saturday, June 3, a highly successful annual Dare County charity event, Driving Fore the Cure, was held at the Nags Head Golf Links. Since 2012 – and despite the hiatus of two years for Covid – this all-woman’s golf tournament has raised $332,000. “Everyone knows someone who has fought or is fighting breast or a gynecological cancer. We are so proud to be able to support innovative programs, and every single penny has stayed in our local Outer Banks community,” said Dr. Kathleen Brehony, one of the organizers of the tournament.

The NHGL Links Ladies is a group of golfing and non-golfing women who reside either part or full time in the Outer Banks and enjoy working for a better quality of life in Dare County. This year, through generous sponsorships and donations, and a field of 124 players, the group raised the record amount of more than $48,000. Linda Ledwith, president of the Links Ladies, recently stated, “As a participant in this fundraiser, it is quite an impressive event. The themes of the different golf carts are festive, but echoing the purpose as to why we are there. Each hole offers a unique gift or treat for the golfers. Women who have participated in many charity events around the area look forward to this each year, and consider it to be the best tournament they participate in. There is a special place in their heart knowing the proceeds are helping local women battling cancer.”

These funds, all of which stay in the Outer Banks community, are evenly split between two non-profits: The NHGL Links Ladies Breast Cancer Fund through Outer Banks Health Cancer Resource Center, and The Outer Banks Relief Foundation Breast Cancer Fund, which is designated to financially help women living and/or working locally as they undergo surgeries, chemotherapy and testing.

Women of all skill levels – from scratch golfers to newbies – participated in the fun captain’s choice tournament. Among special prizes offered by many major sponsors, Haley Buick GMC of Richmond, Va. provided the added excitement of a 2023 Buick Envision for a hole-in-one on the “very wicked” par 3 #15 hole. In addition, Village Realty, a longtime supporter of the tournament, offered a cash prize of $500 for a hole-in-one on the uphill #17. No one captured either of these prizes, but some came close. Dorie Fuller was less than a foot away from driving home in a new Buick.

Tournament competition, held under cloudy breezy skies, was hard-fought, but fun. Brenda Mueller won the straightest drive contest, Shannon Forbes made the longest drive and Sandy Keeling took the prize for longest putt.

Placing first was the team No Fear (Ann Martin, Allison Cherry, Sue Smith and Denise Brown). “C” Cups for a Cure (Cathy Wilson, Rhonda Williams, Carroll Bryant and Carolyn Jordan) took second, and The Swinging Sisters (Cathy Johnson Forbes, Cheryl “Poogie” Johnson, Sibbie Griggs and Karen “Spooky” Phillips won third. Each of these teams took home a crystal trophy provided by Links Lady Carol and Tom Bradlee and Stacy and Mike Siers of Howard Hanna Real Estate.

The complimentary beverage cart saw lots of action thanks to sponsors Outer Banks Electric (Chris and Heather Knight), Nancy Darr and Associates, and Grounds Pros. Hundreds of flag and hole sponsors, along with generous donations, gave the tournament record-breaking results.

The color pink, festive but meaningful, was seen in abundance all over the Nags Head Links.  The prize for best dressed team went to OBX4u (Siers Realty Group), and The Swinging Sisters won for best decorated cart. Best unified entry was taken by Tiki Tits from Outer Banks Health, which also took honors in the poker run and generously returned the entire cash prize back to the tournament.

To keep up the momentum of this year’s tournament, plans are already in the making for Driving Fore the Cure 2024, which will be held on Saturday, June 1 – the first Saturday after Memorial Day.

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