LONG GROVE, IA. — Teams are still sought for the upcoming Putts Fore Pride golf tournament Oct. 6, the latest fundraising event from The Project of the Quad Cities at a time when the nonprofit is expanding services, and moving to a larger location.
The event, happening for the second year, combines drag with golf, bringing some of the area’s drag performers onto the green for a “Lunch on the Lawn.” TPQC marketing director Tyler Mitchell emphasizes that the tournament isn’t just for serious golfers.
This year’s Putts Fore Pride Fundraiser for The Project of the Quad Cities happens Oct. 6 at Glynns Creek Golf Course in Long Grove.
“We’re trying to make this the kind of golf event that’s a lot more fun, and less of a tournament,” says Mitchell. “You should feel free to show up and have a good time and not worry about making mistakes.”
And yet, the event is held at a professional-level course each year, making it also an enticing event for serious golfers. This year’s location is Glynns Creek Golf Course in Long Grove, described by one TripAdvisor commenter as “the best course in the Quad Cities.” Another noted that golfers are likely to witness wildlife throughout the course; still another said Glynns Creek has ‘breathtaking views.”
A unique tradition of Putts Fore Pride is a “Lunch on the Lawn” after the tournament that features area drag performers. This year’s featured drag performers are three long-time performers that perform frequently not only here in the Quad Cities, but also in Iowa City, Cedar Rapids and Des Moines: Lyrica Simone, Karina Passion, and Carmen Love Monroe.
Currently, TPQC is in the midst of a fundraising drive to support its expansion into gender-affirming care for youth, starting this month. The nonprofit also began providing counseling and transition medication to adult transgender people earlier this year. Its services are helping to fill a void left by strict new anti-transgender laws in Iowa and several other states.
Drag performers who will grace the greens Oct. 6 at Putts Fore Pride include (l to r) Carmen Love Monroe, Korina Passion, and Lyrica Simone.
The Project also provides support groups and case management for people with HIV or AIDS; behavioral health counseling in general; testing and treatment for other sexually transmitted infections, harm reduction for people who use substances, and primary healthcare for LGBTQ+ people.
In recent years, The Project has begun to provide more LGBTQ+ social events, including the annual Pride Party at Bass Street Landing, and education efforts like The Village Project for LGBTQ+ education.
The nonprofit will be relocating in November to a larger headquarters on John Deere Road. The new space at 4101 John Deere Road will help TPQC accommodate a 30 percent growth in client visits from 2020 to 2022.
Admission to Putts Fore Pride is $100 per player ($400 per team). Cash prizes of $250 to $750 will be awarded to the top three teams. For more information on the Putts Fore Pride golf tournament, head to tpqc.org/golf. You can also learn more about The Project at its website, and its Facebook page.
