Teaching children values like in the First Tee Program reinforces respect, integrity, and perseverance. Parents get the opportunity to learn as well from these living value programs. Golf is a game that can teach you many lessons about life. Go ahead, get out there, play some golf with a child, loved one, friend, or even a stranger. Participate in a charity golf tournament or have a corporate golf outing. Embrace the moments of youth and share the bond of family through the game of golf. Golf is not only a sport but a tool that can be used in many ways to better one’s life.

Write back to me about how golf has impacted your life as a child or as a parent.

There were many great athletes at this event including one of the best and most durable linebackers of all times, Dick Butkus.

I will be posting other images on Shanda Photographic’s Facebook Fan Page.

Make it your best shot and give back to a charitable cause like the Orangewood Children’s Foundation.

IMAGES with PASSION and PURPOSE.

Golf courses are putting on events for potential tournaments to have the opportunity first hand to experience what it’s like having a tournament at the hosting course’s site. Some events have the invitees play a round of golf and then mingle afterwards at the banquet. Other courses offer a a slide show demonstration on what makes a successful tournament. Either way exclusive vendors are invited to come out and showcase their products or services for those participating in the event.

Mountain Gate Country Club is one of the courses that holds a Golf Tournament 101 event. This year it was held on January 28th. If you are looking to have a tournament in LA, check out this American Golf Course facility located in Bel Air. Mountain Gate is unique in the fact that it has three nine hole courses, a gorgeous view of the mountains and located near the Getty Museum.

I drove around the courses this year to get to know the vendors that participated and the guests. Here are some photos from the event.

Make it your best shot and contact Shanda Photographic for your next event.

The Tom Williams Fundraiser

Have you heard of a similar story of a humble family man who’s loved by many, touched many peoples lives, and diagnosed with a deadly disease of pancreatic cancer? A life threatened at too early of an age. Family, friends, co-workers, and acquaintances showing up to support the family under the circumstances concerning medical bills, mortgage, other basic necessities bills, and being there to share the love and good will for another human being. I experienced that kind of tournament this week at Golf Club of California.

Tom Williams, who has been the GM for Golf Club of California and also at Velano Country Club was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and didn’t have any medical insurance. I am very familiar with scenario since my grandfather had the same disease and we had to deal with Hospice. The tournament raised money in support of Tom. Many members from both Golf Club of California and also The Colony were Tom also worked for many years before transitioning to Golf Club of California participated in the tournament. It was a heart felt day with people showing up to share their generosity towards this man and his family. Tom, after having surgery just three weeks prior was was the guest of honor during the banquet.

It was a day full of love, support, hope, and faith. According to a Tom’s good friend, the doctor feels confident that they were able to remove all of the solid hard mass of cancer. Colleagues are doing what they can to keep Tom’s position available when he is strong enough to return to work. Let’s all pray for the healing process of this man’s pancreas and finances to keep his home.

If you feel touched, moved, or inspired from the blog to contribute in the good will for Tom’s Family please pass the blog along for others to read or contact Darrcy at Golf Club of California for additional donations at (760) 451-3700.

This type of event demonstrates how people can impact others lives for years. Tom shared with me that there were faces he has not seen in twenty years. People of all areas of the US showed up regardless of distance or type of weather conditions to support another human being and his family.

I took over two hundred photos at the event of these extraordinary people who came together for one particular experience, “Play for Tom”. Those who participated now have experienced a day that will make a difference in the lives of another and Images with Passion and Purpose.  All who were there can share the power of community coming together. In order to keep on strong, we as a conscience whole created good vibes at the Golf Club of California for the Tom Williams Foundation and raised monies for the cause.

If you participated in the event and would like to purchase the screen saver images contact shanda@shandaphotographic.com or call at 949.283.5926. We will be donating monies raised from the orders to Tom’s Family.

If you have a special cause that your passionate about, take the time to make a difference and have a charity golf tournament. It is a wonderful way to spend the day and raise money and awareness.

Make it your best shot….

Shanda (as in panda)

www.shandaphotographic.com

Be sure to like Shanda Photographic Facebook Fan Page so we can stay connected or send Shanda an email.

I thought it may nice for you to get to know me a better.

Who’s Behind the Lens:

When I first played golf it was at Driftwood in Huntington Beach as a weekend family outing and I was pretty young. I think there were only a few times I ever recall the family playing before they closed it down in order to build on the land. I than decided to pick up the game during my sophomore year in high school. I borrowed some clubs and actually made the varsity team. I was the only girl. The acronym for golf at that time was gentle men only ladies forbidden, especially when the coach would be tell lesbian stories from the “good old cop days”.

My junior year in high school, I went back to playing on the varsity girls softball team and continued to play softball in college. In 1994, I started working at Pelican Hill Golf Club in the Food and Beverage Department. One of the pro’s in the shop asked me why I didn’t play. I explained to him my experiences in high school and felt the sport was not for women. I remember him saying “ It’s too pretty of a place for you not to play.”

One day, the pro and I set out after work for a few holes.   

I used the ladies Callaway rental clubs. At the time they were the S2H2′s. We went out to play the Links Course. Today it is known as the North Course. I tripled the first hole which is a par 5 and then stuck it inches from the hole on #2 for a birdie. I was so excited! I blew the ball in the hole without even taking a stroke and exclaimed, “Can I count that as a hole-in-one?”  I was so frustrated that I came that close to a hole-in-one and didn’t get it.  So I decided between the excitement and the frustration to start golf up again.

One day Glen Deck needed some help at the golf academy and I had the opportunity to work with Glen, Dr. David Wright, Derek Hardy and a few others. It was great and I learned so much about the game of golf. I even assisted them with drills to make sure the students were doing them correctly. I also was able to hear stories about the many great players from the past including Sam Snead and Ben Hogan. I learned so much from the short experience and I am so appreciative for being part of the golf school which today is known as the Pelican Hill Golf Academy.  Glen also invited me to attend a two day ladies only clinic at the school. It was a small group of us including a pregnant lady. On day two we all went out for a group playing lesson on the North Course. Glen was fabulous with his instruction and help all of us. 

Dr. David Wright’s philosophy about visualization was key for me and I apply it to my life as well as seeing and feeling my shots on the course. Derek Hardy, who taught golf all over the world, offered to work with me at the range if I was serious about learning. We went over the fundamentals of the swing plane. Old habits die hard. I sometimes go over the top on my swing and hit a natural fade. Derek also worked with me on correcting my hand position. Today I have a pre-shot routine which helps me keep the proper grip. I learned and experienced golf as it’s finest while working at Pelican Hill.

Here are some scenic photos taken at Pelican Hill North Course.

My passion for both photography and golf also allowed me the privilege to be a teacher’s assistant and participate in golf at Cal State University Fullerton. I graduated in the top ten percent of the school with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications, emphasis in Photo-communications, and a minor in Political Science. There are only 67 Associations of College Honor Societies and I became a member of the seventh oldest national honor society, Kappa Tau Alpha. KTA is the National Honor Society for Journalism and Mass Communications.

Therefore, my job in the food and beverage department at Pelican Hill came to an end in order to finish up the last semester in college where I was a staff photographer for the Daily Titan Newspaper. I started working as an advertising executive and freelance photographer for what today is Southland Golf Magazine. I went on to pursue another area of passion, and currently hold a multiple subject teaching credential through the state of California and work with children as a coach. My love for images with passion and purpose on and off the golf course has allowed me to work with some big name companies and photographers. I have rebranded in 2012 as Shanda Photographic. I chose the name Shanda Photographic because Shanda is who I am, graphic means to remember, and photo means light. Remember light Shanda. So I invite you to follow the blog and enjoy what I see.