President’s note:

November: A Month of Thanks and Appreciation

November is the perfect time to give thanks to all the wonderful volunteers who make our LPGA Amateurs Southwest Florida Chapter such a success!

A special thank-you Deb Shepard who has served as President for the past year and has actively managed our Chapter’s golf and social events. We appreciate your contributions and wish you all the best.

I would also like to thank Bonnie Blanchard, who has led our social events; Keri McNamara, our Treasurer, who has dedicated countless hours balancing our books and overseeing our financial planning and management, Susie Opperman and Lesley Corydon our membership requirement and membership service who has championed our efforts to welcome new members to the Chapter.

These ladies have demonstrated unwavering dedication, commitment, and a true passion for our LPGA Amateurs SWFL Chapter. They have generously served in their respective roles, and as their terms come to an end, we want to recognize and celebrate all they have contributed.

As we look ahead, I am actively seeking a few volunteers to step into these important leadership positions and help continue the great work they have done. If you are interested in getting involved, sharing your talents, and making a difference in our Chapter, please reach out to me!

Volunteering is a wonderful way to connect with fellow members, contribute to our community, and help keep our Chapter thriving.

I would also like to recognize our League Chair -Sandy Bologna, as well as our Tee Captains Kim Decker - Hibiscus, Mary Kaye Rueth - Stoneybrook, Kerstin Koenig – Quail Village, Lisa Holden – Valencia, and Jackie Bossi - Lakewood — for their time, contributions and commitment to making our Winter golf leagues run smoothly. And finally, Liz Rees our Secretary and Sara Eriksson who has supported our Communications efforts.

 I am grateful to have such a great group of women supporting our SWFL Chapter and look forward to working with all of you as I come in as your new President.

We had a great October Think Pink Golf Event at Royal Palm Golf Course on October 24^th, where we supported Breast Cancer Awareness Month and had a great turnout and a lot of fun. 

I look forward to meeting you in the coming months and stay tuned to our golf and social offerings https://chapters.lpgaamateurs.com/events/chapter-events/FLSW. 

You’re not going to want to miss the fun things we have planned.

Cheri Straka

LPGA Amateur Golf Association

SWFL Chapter President

2026 LPGA Amateurs SWFL Chapter Leadership Team

What a fantastic day we had on Saturday, October 24th, at our Pink Ball - 2 Best of 4 event at the beautiful Royal Palm!

With a delightful lunch that everyone seemed to savor, it was a recipe for success!

Congratulations to the winning team of Susie Sandstrom, Cheri Straka, and Kelsey Koch, who brought their A-game with a total net score of 145!

Hot on their heels, we had a thrilling tie for second place with Lesley Corydon, Patty Gifft, Keri McNamara, and Joan Kelly.

Along with Mary Kaye Rueth, Susie Opperman, Victoria Holmes, and Janet Morrison, both at a total net of 148!

A special shoutout to Keri McNamara for her closest-to-the-pin magic on hole #5, landing a mere 6'11" away, and to Lisa Holden for her impressive 14'5" shot on hole #13!

And if you haven’t checked out our social media yet, you’re in for a treat! We’ve got a fabulous video showcasing our wonderful sponsor, Easy Spirit, who generously gifted us with stylish pink shoes! Don’t miss your chance to gift a pair and step into something special! Link to order another pair

It was a day filled with fun, friendship, and fabulousness—let’s keep that pink spirit alive!

Cheri Straka

OCTOBER SOCIAL EVENT @ L’APPETITO

A fun gathering with good food and excellent service. Newer members enjoyed the opportunity to socialize and make new friends. It also served as an opportunity to learn more, and get answers to questions regarding Chapter ‘happenings’:

• The winter leagues and monthly events 
• The event registration/sign up process

            Congratulations to the ‘Lucky Dip’ winners:

                       Kathy Bartony

                       Lucille Decker

So, looking to meet fellow members and new friends whilst having fun?

Come join us …………

EVENT REGISTRATION ETIQUETTE 

All events organized by the Chapter Leadership Team require that the hosting facility (golf club, restaurant, etc.) be advised of the number of attendees to be accommodated. The deadline to provide confirmation of this information varies from 1 to 3 days prior to the event.

Failure of registered members to show up at the event causes inconvenience and embarrassment. If you are unable to attend an event you have registered for, PLEASE advise the organizer prior to the event.

SIGN UP AND SHOW UP!

Liz Rees

Variety Travel Management by Kerstin Koenig (KK)



My business, Variety Travel Management, is your full-service travel agency, handling all your travel needs from big adventures to small details.

With over 35 years of expertise, we love turning “Someday we should…” into “When do we leave?”

Golfing, hiking, biking, skiing, beaching or setting sail—what’s calling your name?

Tell us what you love, and we’ll help you explore your options. If the water is calling, trips include small ships, tall ships, and cruise ships.

Share your wish list and budget, and let’s plan a vacation anywhere in the world tailored to you and your family or friends.

Before you wade through 400 Google reviews or struggle with AI’s grasp of travel logistics, give me a call.

The holidays are coming! Give someone you love the gift of travel in form of a gift certificate. It is something wonderful to look forward to—and so much easier to wrap.

Ready to plan your next adventure or give the gift of travel?

Contact me at 239-513-0772 or kerstin@variety-travel.com

And let me send you there …

Winter Leagues Sign Up Now Available:

We have 6 Leagues this winter. You can sign up for any or all of them. You will then receive weekly invitations to accept play that week, or not. You must be on the League roster in order to receive the weekly invitations to play.

Here are the Leagues and links to sign up:

Hibiscus Nine and Dine – Tuesdays 2:36 tee time $59

Kim Decker 917-881-3341 k.decker4@yahoo.com

Click Here To Register

Hibiscus 18 Holes – Once a Month 12:30 tee time $116

Kim Decker 917-881-3341 k.decker4@yahoo.com

Click Here To Register

Valencia Golf and Country Club – Every other Wednesday 12:04 tee time $89

Lisa Holden 858-449-7702 daygoe1@gmail.com

Click Here To Register

Stoneybrook – Saturdays 12:28 tee time $90

Mary Kay Rueth 219-688-3476 mkruethdpt@gmail.com

Click Here To Register

Quail Village – 2 Saturdays a month 1:10 tee time $73

Kerstin Koenig 239-513-0772 kerstin@variety-travel.com

Click Here To Register

Lakewood Country Club – Thursdays 1:30 tee time $40-$60

Jackie Bossi 781-771-8234 jaeh64@comcast.net

Click Here To Register

League Etiquette. Courtesy, responsibility, and respect are among golf's core values. Registering for Chapter League play is your commitment to show up on time and play. Please help us keep Chapter League play fair and enjoyable for everyone by following these important guidelines...

* If you need to cancel a play date, please notify the tee captain and cancel your registration by editing it at the registration link.

* We are committing to a fixed number of players each week. If we have a waitlist, another person can be moved into your slot. If we consistently show up with less than what we committed, the course will cancel or limit our tee times.  

If I have updated pricing by Tuesday, I will let you know.

Sandra Bologna

sbologna21@gmail.com

914-299-4348

** Please note prices are subject to change depending on season - Please always review the Sign Up emails for confirmed price. **

Complimentary Entrance to the Final 2026 LPGA Tour Events

There are three more LPGA events scheduled in the US for the 2026 season: The Annika driven by Gainbridge in Belleair, FL; the CME Group Tour Championship in Naples, FL; and the Grant Thornton Invitational in Naples, FL. LPGA Amateurs members receive complimentary entrance (1 member + 1 guest) to these and all other LPGA, Epson, and Legends of the LPGA Tour events in the US and Canada (excluding the US Women's Open and Solheim Cup). Be sure to check the specific instructions at this link on how to receive complimentary access to each of the individual events.