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History
The year was 1956. Willie Turnesa, one of the most successful amateur golfers in United States history, was enjoying a round of golf with his close friend Udo Reinach, a member of the prestigious Quaker Ridge Golf Club in Scarsdale, NY. When their discussion turned to their appreciation and love for the game of golf, Willie and Udo decided it was time for them to give something back to the game. Inspired by the success of the Chick Evans and Ouimet funds, they established a similar program for caddies from clubs in the Westchester County Area. They named their organization the Reinach-Turnesa Scholarship Fund. Willie and Udo soon began to spread the word and were ecstatic when a flurry of applications arrived. As they reviewed the applications, they culled the list and identified six qualified applicants – but, there was a catch. They could only afford to award three scholarships. Willie and Udo then drew the lucky three names from a hat. The next day, the local newspaper carried the story, including a complete list of the six qualified candidates, and the three fortunate recipients. Upon reading this story, Sally Francis, a golfer from the Apawamis Club in Rye, NY, phoned her friend Willie to ask how much was needed to fund the remaining scholarships. Sally’s check arrived the next morning. Sally's generosity inspired the Fund's mission to never turn away a qualified candidate with financial need.
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