Hester Estes help hurricane victims

FAYETTEVILLE — University of Arkansas head golf coach Kelley Hester and her assistant Shauna Estes were in New Orleans, La., last week aiding some of the victims of last year’s hurricane season. Hester, president of the National Golf Coaches Association, and Estes are working alongside several other golf coaches and Habitat For Humanity building homes for worthy families. The NGCA was scheduled to host its annual convention in New Orleans but last year’s hurricane season forced a change of venue. In an effort to aid the struggling communities the NGCA under former president Denise St. Pierre forged a relationship with Habitat creating "Team Build." "This is the organization’s first major outreach project and is the pet project of Denise," said Arkansas head coach Kelley Hester. "Our January convention was set to be in New Orleans and we had to move it because of the hurricanes. For that reason, we felt the need to try and do something but we weren’t sure that our small group could make a difference. Denise did the research and made contact with Habitat and here we are. I think we have over $52,000 in pledges and we’ve collected more than $30,000 of that. It’s nice to give something back especially in a non golf way. Most of what we do is clinics and things like that but this is totally different. It should be fun for us and worthwhile as well." Throughout the spring women’s collegiate golf programs have raised money to assist with the building of homes in the Upper 9th Ward. The build takes place June 5-10, with at least 25 coaches scheduled to participate. Hester, who assumed her role as president of the NGCA June 4, after serving as the vice-president, and Estes are in New Orleans this week to help with the build. Contributions are still being accepted. Please contact Roger M. Yaffe, executive director of the NGCA at 800-381-0769 for more information.