On September 23, the RDGA will be presenting its annual RDGA Leading The Way Award – to long-time women’s golf administrator, course rater, Board Member and volunteer, Sharon White.
Sharon joined the RDGA Board of Directors in late 2014, working to bring back the RDGA Delegate program. Since then, that committee has changed its focus, as the organizational structure of the RDGA has changed, to Volunteers, as it is today. Pre-dating her time on the Board, Sharon has been an RDGA Course Rating volunteer for 10 years, a lead rater for 7, and is now the Assistant Course Rater. Always thinking of women’s equality, Sharon initially helped with the RDGA Women’s Friendly Course Evaluation program and now serves on the RDGA Women’s Committee.
The RDGA Leading The Way Award was created in 2018 to honor an individual in the Rochester community who has worked tirelessly to grow the game of golf for women and men. Past award recipients include Dianne Wilde, Shirley Durham, Debby Murphy, Julie Odenbach, Susie Yarnall and Jane Gorsline.
The award presentation will take place as part of the annual dinner following the conclusion of the RDGA Women’s Open, being hosted this year at Locust Hill Country Club on Monday, September 23, at (approximately) 5:00 p.m.
CLICK HERE for details about the annual RDGA Women’s Open – to be hosted by Locust Hill Country Club on Monday, September 23 – including pairings, leaderboards & more!
Sharon joined the RDGA Board in late 2014, working to bring back the Delegate program – or, as it has since been renamed, the RDGA Volunteer Committee. Pre-dating her time on the Board, Sharon has been an RDGA Course Rating volunteer for 10 years, a lead rater for 7, and is now the Assistant Course Rater.
Always thinking of women’s equality, Sharon initially helped with the RDGA Women’s Friendly Course Evaluation program and now serves on the RDGA Women’s Committee.
“I worked for McDonald’s Corporation in Rochester – I was the first woman hired by the McDonald’s corporation,” White recalls. “McDonald’s is the reason for me being in Rochester as they transferred me and my family here from Oswego, NY. I did not work for an owner operator, I worked for the corporation.”
Sharon later worked as a Manager for the McDonald’s Corporation – but not before having to prove herself first.
“When I asked my supervisor if I could be a Manager trainee he said he didn’t know how to incorporate a woman. I said it was done on paper so what is the problem,” she remembers. “It was the first time I had to stand up and be a woman in a man’s world.”
Sharon later moved over to Wegmans, where she enjoyed a busy and productive career – until her retirement in 2005. It was in retirement that Sharon found her true passion – golf.
“I never started golfing until my boys were grown. My sister-in-law introduced me to golfing. I thought if she could do it, so could I. I needed to be as good as her as I am a very competitive person. I found I really enjoyed golfing and wished I had started much earlier in my life so I would know how good I could have become. It is frustrating to get older and loose the distance you can hit a golf ball. Which is why I am so determined to have all the courses in Rochester have forward tees. I feel it would encourage older men and women to golf longer and to have a tee for beginners too.”
Joining the RDGA Board of Directors in late 2014, Sharon took up several important responsibilities.
“The first thing I was interested in was to get all the golf courses to have a male and a FEMALE representative to the RDGA,” Sharon says. “This was done through the delegate program.”
Over the years the Delegate program evolved into the volunteer program. Today, RDGA has volunteers who staff RDGA tournaments as starters – they call the players to the first tee and explain the format, cart rules, and many other items important to the player. Sharon coordinates volunteer activities and recruits potential volunteers.
Today, Sharon resides in Ontario with her husband, John. They have sons and grandchildren who live in the area. Not taking up the game of golf until her kids were grown, Sharon now participates in several RDGA Women’s tournaments and stays involved in many volunteer activities, which keeps her very busy.
“I feel my volunteering is what I cherish the most and is my best asset,” Sharon says. “I volunteer for what is important to me at any time. Whether it is volunteering for the Board, doing the Volunteer program, Rating golf courses, helping courses put in Forward tees, advocating for Women, volunteering for Elections, volunteering at Church, volunteering in my town and on the course picking up Litter. I have a road I clean in Ontario and I always leave a course better than I found it. I hope to be remembered by what I did for others.”
Be sure to join us at Locust Hill Country Club on Monday, September 23 as a player or a dinner attendee as we honor Sharon White and all her accomplishments in golf!
CLICK HERE for more information about the 2024 RDGA Women’s Open on Monday, September 23!
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