Returning for its 30th year, The Coronado Rotary Charity Golf Tournament continues a decades-long tradition of fundraising that supports dozens of local nonprofit programs.
Few community events combine friendly competition and philanthropy as effectively as a charity golf tournament. In Coronado, California, that spirit has been alive for three decades through the annual Coronado Rotary Charity Golf Tournament, which returned this year for its milestone 30th anniversary.
Hosted by the Rotary Club of Coronado, the tournament took place at the scenic Coronado Municipal Golf Course, drawing players from across the region for a day that blends sport, community engagement, and charitable giving.
Golfers of all skill levels were invited to participate in the event, which began with a shotgun start at 10:30 a.m. Entry costed $250 per player and included green fees, lunch, a golfer gift bag, and an end-of-day cocktail reception.
Participants who did not already have a team still joined the fun. Organizers paired individual players with others to form foursomes, ensuring everyone had the opportunity to take part in the tournament.
The coronadotimes.com reported that the competition itself featured a variety of games and prize opportunities designed to keep the atmosphere lighthearted and inclusive. One highlight was the chance to win $10,000 for a hole-in-one on the ninth hole or by sinking a dramatic 50-foot putt.
Other contests included special prizes for best shots and even a quirky marshmallow-driving challenge on the thirteenth hole where players tested their ability to launch a marshmallow down the fairway.
While the games added excitement, the event’s deeper purpose was fundraising. Over the past several years, the tournament has raised more than $80,000 annually to support local charitable initiatives.
Funds generated from the event benefit more than 60 community programs and organizations, including Camp Able, Safe Harbor, Feed the Needy, and Wounded Warriors initiatives.
According to Rotary Past President Pat Stark, events like this are essential to maintaining the club’s charitable mission. “It takes money to do all that,” Stark said. “The dollars to do it come from this golf tournament.”
The Rotary Club of Coronado itself has a long tradition of service. Founded in 1926, the organization is celebrating its 100th anniversary and has raised millions of dollars over the past century to support humanitarian programs locally and globally.
Today, the club includes more than 260 members, making it one of the largest Rotary organizations in the region. Globally, Rotary International includes more than 46,000 clubs across over 200 countries and geographic regions, all united by the guiding principle of “Service Above Self.”
The Coronado tournament is one of three major fundraising events organized by the club each year, alongside the Low Tide Ride and Stride and the End Polio Now Wine Auction.
After thirty years, the golf tournament remains a cornerstone of the club’s philanthropic efforts and a reminder that sometimes the simple act of gathering on the golf course can help transform lives in the surrounding community.
