The guy they call simply Gooch loves golf, but he loves life in Michigan's Great Southwest even more. He tells of talks over the years about how there might be greater opportunities elsewhere, but we choose to stay here because of what a great place this is to live. We live in an area with great tourist destinations including wineries, beaches, quaint shopping villages and great golf courses. For Wayne Gooch Yamaguchi, however, "It's the special people whose presence make this community light up, and one of the greatest of these was Denise Bohn."
That is why tomorrow, Tuesday, June 21st, Gooch will begin golfing in the pre-dawn darkness between 5:30 and 6am and will play at least 99-holes dedicated to the memory of Denise and in another heroic effort to raise dollars for the education of her children following her death this spring. He's done it twice before for other charities, but he knew immediately that this year's march would be for Denise.
He says a few words come to mind when he thinks of Denise: "Leadership would be the first. She had an incredible ability to bring people together for a cause and it wasn't often that someone could say no to her." Another word Gooch things of is "Grit, which Angela Duckworth defines as 'passion and perseverance for very long term goals.'" He adds, "Grit is sticking with your future, day in and day out. Not just for a week, not just for a month, but for years; and working really hard to make that future a reality."
Mr. Yamaguchi will undertake his journey tomorrow alone, representing Lake Michigan Hills Golf where he is the proprietor and professional. In 2014 he played 99 holes for Progeria Research and 100 Women Strong. Last year he played 108 holes for the same charities.
Gooch insists Denise's spirit lives on at Lake Michigan Hills where she hosted many a fundraiser for Breast Cancer Research. He is hopeful that friends and fans of Denise will help benefit her children Regan, Reece and Kaden through donations and pledges toward his effort tomorrow. You can do so by visiting Lake Michigan Hills with your donation, or you can do so online right now by clicking the link below to the ongoing GoFundMe campaign.
He encourages friends to wear pink for the day tomorrow to show your support and share this story with others by clicking the share button below for Facebook or Twitter.
Lake Michigan Hills Golf Club is located at 2520 Kerlikowske Road in Benton Harbor and can be reached by phone at 269-849-4653, Extension 2.
Here is the link for the GoFundMe account online:
