|
|
|
 News from Around Banderas Bay | April 2008 
You Can Help Fulfill a Dream... A Heartfelt Request for any Golfing Related Items
 Patrick Harrison - PVNN
| | Alfredo says "with the rise of the superstar golfer Lorena Ochoa, kids of all ages are lining up at my makeshift chain link swing cage." | | |
Puerto Vallarta - Alfredo Cervantes (known as Charlie to his Gringo friends) has a passion for golf and for teaching. A native of Mexico, Alfredo and his young family returned to Puerto Vallarta after 17 years of living in Southern California.
Shortly after returning to the city that he loved in 1997, a tragic head-on collision with a local Vallarta bus occurred, forever changing Alfredo's life.
Alfredo awoke from a 42 day coma to learn that his 11 and 14 year old boys and golfing partners were killed. His wife was severely injured as well, and his hopes and dreams were shattered. Golf he says "is the only thing that takes my mind off of the pain."
So now, six days a week at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, a humbled and modest Alfredo closes his taco stand and heads to the Municipal Stadium in Puerto Vallarta behind the Sheraton Hotel to give free golf lessons to any person wanting his coaching and swing critique.
Alfredo says "with the rise of the superstar golfer Lorena Ochoa, kids of all ages are lining up at my makeshift chain link swing cage. Lorena Ochoa is to Mexican kids, what Tiger Woods was to American kids in the 1990s."
Many of the kids he works with have natural talent and clearly enjoy the sport but just cannot advance beyond anything else but the cage at the stadium. "I just do not have enough clubs or the resources to meet the demand, neither do these poor local kids."
How can you help? Donate your old or second set of golf clubs, bags, shoes, gloves, balls, tees, shirts and hats or any other golf-related items! Whether or not you are planning to golf during your next vacation, just pack your clubs on your next visit to Puerto Vallarta and leave them here in the hands of a potential pro.
Your clubs will be matched to specific person or refurbished to fit a boy or girl when possible. In addition, some equipment will be consigned and sold at various local used sporting goods stores to pay for special kid-sized clubs and greens fee at local courses.
Don't have a 2nd set? You can still give by donating cash or green fees gift certificates at any of the local courses in the Banderas Bay Area. Just drop us an email to coordinate the details. We'll come to you! We make it easy to donate. We will come to your hotel, casa, condo, or any other location of convenience, pick up your donation and thank you personally. It's that easy! Simply email clubsforkidsmx(at)hotmail.com and we'll take it from there.
Additional details can be found online at ClubsForKidsMx.com.
 Born in Seattle, WA, Patrick Harrison has been living in PV for more than 3 years. Drawing on his experience in entertainment, radio, retail and sports marketing in major US cities, Patrick opened his own business here in Vallarta, P. Gringo Marketing & PR, a successful Public Relations Firm that targets the English-speaking tourist and local communities. You can contact Patrick at patrickinpv(at)gmail.com
Click HERE for more articles by Patrick Harrison. |
| |
|
Vallarta Weddings
Tell a Friend
Site Map
Print this Page
Email Us