Dan Rogers claims his handicap isn’t as...

Dan Rogers claims his handicap isn’t as low as it could be, though a

12 sounds good enough to me.

The Costa Mesa resident and member of Santa Ana Country Club will

tee it up again June 30 in the Goodwill Golf Classic at the Coto de

Caza Golf & Racquet Club.

Rogers, the former USC basketball star, is in his second year as

president and chief executive officer at Goodwill Industries of

Orange County, which has donation centers located throughout Costa

Mesa, such as at the Fairgrounds, along with a thrift store in the

city. Goodwill provides employment opportunities for people with

disabilities to achieve economic and personal independence.

Before becoming a member at Santa Ana CC a year ago, Rogers honed

his golf skills at the Costa Mesa Golf & Country Club.

“My golf game is not the way I want it,” he said.

That could be said by many golfers, including yours truly.

Still, Rogers, who has spent many hours volunteering with

organizations such as Save Our Youth, the Boys & Girls Club of Irvine

and Our Lady Queen of Angels Church in Newport Beach, maintains his

focus on the organization he works for. He said this year’s

fund-raising goal from tournament proceeds is $85,000.

“That goes right to hiring people with disabilities,” he said.

“More than 91 cents of each dollar raised goes into our programs.

Last year we had more than 200 players on both courses.”

At $400 per person, 213 players would need to register for

Goodwill to meet Rogers’ estimate.

He just wants to have fun, play a good round and raise as much

money for the organization.

With several years experience volunteering, Rogers has been doing

plenty right.

*

For those, if any, who are lucky enough to ace the par-3 18th hole

at Mesa Verde Country Club during either the Tea Cup Classic or Jones

Cup, a new Mercedes will be waiting for them on the drive home.

Four female amateurs, otherwise known as the four women’s club

champions from this newspaper’s circulation -- Mesa Verde’s Akemi

Khaiat, Big Canyon Country Club’s Sally Holstein, Santa Ana CC’s

Marianne Towersey and Newport Beach Country Club’s Debbie Albright --

will attempt to ace the 135-yard par-3 18th when the Tea Cup is held

July 25. If any of the quartet is successful, the golfer will drive

away in a silver M-Class 350 model.

A week later on Aug. 1, the four men’s club champions along with a

club professional from each of the four venues will also vie for an

M-Class 350, though this one will be black.

The men will play the same hole, but with the tees moved back to

measure 175 yards.