Tribute to Donna Petersen

Houndslake Country Club
October 19, 2009

A year ago at this time, our Committee Member and friend, Donna Petersen was facing the challenge of her life.  She had been diagnosed with cancer and underwent surgery during the 2008 WEGA Senior Championship.  Donna lost her courageous battle on September 21 of this year.  In an effort to celebrate her life and her contribution to the Women’s Eastern Golf Association, the Executive Committee is dedicating this, the 2009 Senior Amateur Championship, to Donna.

 We are fortunate to have Donna’s husband, J. Stewart,  with us this evening as well as two of Donna and Stew’s  5 children, David Petersen, and Anne Petersen Comer and her husband, David Comer. 

 This evening we want to draw attention to Donna’s contribution to this Senior Amateur Championship. Donna volunteered at the very first WEGA Senior Championship in 1993.  In 1995 she was asked to serve as the Local Chairman of this Championship and ably filled this role for 12 years.  Donna was elected to the Executive Committee as a Senior Committee member in 1999.  2006 was a bittersweet year for WEGA when Donna announced her retirement from the Committee.  She wanted to spend more time with her family and travel with Stew. 

 I can assure you that we would not be standing before you tonight at Houndslake Country Club and you, the players would not be getting ready to compete tomorrow for this Championship had it not been for Donna Petersen. 

 We are indebted to Donna for making this Championship a unique and sought-after event.  Throughout the years, Donna had a special relationship with the Penland family, who were the owners of Houndslake Country Club and the Guest House during WEGA’s early years.  Peggy Penland, who is the owner of the Guest House,  is here with us tonight.  This club took a chance on WEGA.   When Mr. Weldon Wyatt purchased the club in 2000, Donna smoothed the way for WEGA to remain at Houndslake.  Seventeen years later we enjoy a longstanding relationship with the club, the membership, the Guest House,  and the community of Aiken.

 I would like to read a quote from our favorite number 2 book, the Rule Book:

 “Golf is played, for the most part, without the supervision of a referee or umpire.  The game relies on the integrity of the individual to show consideration for other players and to abide by the Rules.   All players should conduct themselves in a disciplined manner, demonstrating courtesy and sportsmanship at all times, irrespective of how competitive they may be.  This is the spirit of the game of golf”.

 This quote exemplifies Donna Petersen and her life.  Donna was gracious and humble.  She was generous to a fault, with her time and her heart.  She loved young people and encouraged them in golf as well as in life. She worked so very hard with WEGA to make sure that each year the players in this championship were enjoying themselves.  Donna loved golf and she enjoyed the friendships and camaraderie that this wonderful game offers. 

 When it was apparent that Donna’s condition was very serious, she did not dwell on her fate.  Her focus was on her husband, her children and grandchildren.  Donna, with her generous spirit, gave so much of herself until the very end.

 To the young women from Aiken and South Aiken High, if Mrs. Petersen were here this evening and were to offer you some advice, she would encourage you to do the best you can, whether it be in school or in pursuing your life outside of high school.    Mrs.  Petersen was an athlete in college and took up golf after getting married.  Somewhere in between being married and learning to play golf, Mrs. Petersen and her husband raised 5 children.  She led a full life, and devoted herself to her family and to the Aiken community.

 To Donna’s Houndslake friends, Jan, John, Paula, Jim, and Bernice.  You were so fortunate to have Donna in your life on a daily basis.  What a privilege it was to be her friend.  Of course, one of the perks of being Donna’s friend was to be tapped as a volunteer when the WEGA Championship rolled into town.   No doubt you volunteered because of your respect for and devotion to Donna .   It did not take long to realize that the entire Houndslake community held Donna in high regard.

 To the Petersen Family, we know that WEGA held a special place in Donna’s heart.  WEGA wants you to know HOW MUCH Donna meant to us.  She was the glue that kept us together.  WEGA Committee members, retired and present, forged friendships with Donna that transcended distance and time.   We loved Donna.  She will forever be with us in spirit as we continue our responsibilities to the Women’s Eastern Golf Association and to ourselves.

 At this time, I ask Coach Carla Dupert from Aiken High School and Coach Bonnie Bucket from South Aiken High School. 

 Carla and Bonnie, please accept this contribution from the Women’s Eastern Golf Association in memory of Donna Petersen, our friend and colleague.  She was so very proud of what you both have done to help these young women of Aiken.