Of Telling Our Story...
Golfers Against Cancer was born in the fall of 1997 with a benefit golf tournament and dinner at the Clubs of Kingwood to honor a fellow Deerwood Member, Dave Roberts and Deerwood Assistant Pro Mike Longpre, both of whom were battling cancer. It was a modest affair that raised $80,000 for cancer research. It is unlikely that the founding members of GAC could have envisioned that the organization would flourish as it has. Dave Roberts lost his battle with cancer in 1998. Sadly, Mike Longpre also lost his battle with cancer in 2003. In memory of both Roberts and Longpre, Golfers Against Cancer continues to raise money for cancer research.
Kingwood, Walden on Lake Conroe, and Denver have been sites of GAC’s flagship fundraising tournaments and dinners, but fundraising events have also been held in Southern California, Greensboro, Boston, Atlanta, and New York City. The biggest event is held at Walden on Lake Conroe each year and boasts one of the largest turnouts of any benefit golf tournament in the Houston area. As the Houston Chronicle reported, it’s now “The Granddaddy of all Houston Benefit Golf Tournaments.” As many as 500 golfers have participated in the golf tournaments at Walden on Lake Conroe, The Clubs of Kingwood Courses, and the Deerwood Golf Club.
In the past, the weekend would also include the memorial Mike Longpre Pro-Am, where South Texas PGA members would bring their teams to compete for $25,000 in prize money.
is to raise money for cancer research and honor friends and families battling all forms of cancer. GAC is an all volunteer 501 (c)(3) charitable organization. Funds are raised through charitable donations, sponsorships, and by your participation in annual golf tournaments, dinners, events and live and silent auctions. Proceeds from these events go directly toward specific cancer research projects. Through the years, GAC has raised $28.3 million for cancer research through a combination of charitable contributions and matching funds and has funded over 100+ specific research projects at leading institutions around the nation focusing on cures for a wide range of cancers.
Learn more about the men who inspired Golfers Against Cancer – Mike Longpré and David Roberts.
Michael Scott Longpré
Mike was loved by many and is missed for his humor, compassion, and positive outlook on life. During his 36 years, he was able to touch the hearts of many who grew to know and love him. Mike came to Houston to play on the Rice University Golf team, and after graduating joined the staff at The Deerwood Club.
Mike and his wife, Sarah, lived in Kingwood and were active participants at Deerwood. Sarah joined the Board of Directors of Golfers Against Cancer after Mike’s passing.
Dave Roberts
Much of the inspiration of Golfers Against Cancer came from the Deerwood members who knew and wanted to support and honor Dave Roberts. Dave and his wife, Sally, had been long-time Kingwood residents and both were avid golfers. Dave was nicknamed “The Colonel” by his Saturday morning Deerwood golf gang. The Golfers Against Cancer website originally was a tribute to Dave from Interactive Ensemble – a company in Austin, Texas where Dave’s daughter Cristen was working when the first web site was launched in the spring of 1998. Many companies now donate services to maximize our ability to raise funds for research, but Interactive Ensemble was the first to do so – in honor of Cristen’s father and finding a cure for cancer.
Sally was a founder of Golfers Against Cancer and was instrumental in our efforts to research and provide funds to the most beneficial research.