Dr. Beverly Harrison Receives Prestigious Sandy LaBauve Spirit Award

Photo by Ladies Professional Golf Association

KENILWORTH, N.J. - Dr. Beverly Harrison is well known in the New Jersey golf community. In fact, she’s well known in the golf community around the country. She recently received the Sandy LaBauve Spirit Award, which honors an individual who has gone above and beyond to inspire the lives of juniors through their passion and dedication to empowering girls through golf.  

Harrison has always had a passion for volunteering. Before retiring, she was a labor attorney and served at three State University of New York (SUNY) campuses. During that time, she was introduced to Renaissance Junior Golf, an organization that introduced golf to youth in minority groups. Harrison started volunteering here and there – the only female, though. A gentleman within Renaissance recommended she check out LPGA USGA Girls Golf. 

Harrison became the site director of the LPGA USGA Girls Golf of Greater Newark in 2005 and has worked tirelessly to grow the game for girls ever since. She’s seen the organization grow and flourish over the years.  

“Every year when I return for the next clinic to watch and see how they've matured and how they become the future leaders. I'm just amazed,” Harrison expressed.  

Harrison has helped shape the future of golf. Holmdel native and Stanford University women’s golfer sophomore Megha Ganne has been a product of Harrison’s unwavering commitment to growing golf not only for girls, but for girls of diverse backgrounds. 

“Without diversity in everything that we do, in all aspects of life, there will be no sustainability,” added Harrison. “When you isolate a section or sections of the community, there's no growth and you miss out on so many different contributions.” 

Unbeknownst to her, she was nominated for the prestigious Sandy LaBauve Spirit Award and was honored in January at the LPGA Professionals Rolex Awards. 

“I was completely taken aback,” Harrison said of her award. “I don't do this (volunteer work) for an award. We have a good program, but all we do is publicize on our website - I never expected to be to be acknowledged like this.” 

For over two decades now, Harrison has positvely impacted hundreds of young girls in the Garden State, empowering them through the game - making it apparent that golf is a vehicle to boost one's confidence as a female. 

"The girls in my program are beneficiaries of not only mastering the artistry of golf but indelible sustaining tools for navigating life," Harrison said. "These encompass the cultivation of wholesome self-identity, verbal skills interpersonal relationships, the art of listening patience and endurance. Moreover, these young people become attuned to an ethical perspective as they endeavor to serve the needs of other striving diverse individuals. If this is accomplished, then my mission has been successful."

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