Long long ago, singer and TV personality Dinah Shore originated the Ladies Professional Golf Association event called the Colgate-Dinah Shore Winners Circle Tournament when it debuted in 1972 at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage. Shore, who died in 1994, was a golfer and a supporter of women’s professional golf. Since 1983, it has been one of the four major championships of women’s golf! The tournament became a 72-hole event in 1973. The name was changed to the Nabisco Championship in 2000, then the Kraft Nabisco Championship which it has been since 2002.
Although Shore’s name no longer graces the tournament’s marquee, the champion still receives the Dinah Shore Trophy. Alcott, King and Sorenstam have all won the tournament three times. As of 2012, the event has a purse of $2 million, with a $300,000 winner’s share. After winning the 1988 tournament, then known as the Nabisco Dinah Shore, Amy Alcott leaped into the lake near the 18th green; that lake is now called “Champion’s Lake.” Alcott won again in 1991, after which she and Shore both jumped into the lake. The leap has since become traditional, with golf legends such as Patty Sheehan, Betsy King and Annika Sorenstam taking the plunge.
-- Reference: SportsRec.com
Well, back in these olden days, lesbians flocked to the desert to watch the tournament. Because, you know, lots of lesbos golf. Plus, it was always a nice time to visit Palm Springs, the first week of April, and a nice spring break! Times were different then, and not everyone could be as out and proud as they are today, even the pro golfers. But word spread and secret parties emerged. Kathy Miller, now 79, was one of the first promoters to throw a Dinah Shore party! Many promoters came to town and the parties grew every year in production and attendance. A lesbian tradition had spontaneously begun! Sadly, the golf tournament stopped happening in Palm Springs in 2023, but the parties continue. Desert Legends promoters are excited to keep the tradition alive, and promise your Desert Legends vacation will be a weekend you won't forget!
Kathy Miller, pictured right, was the first recipient of the 2023 Desert Legends Award! We will celebrate more of these amazing trend-setters every year.
Our 2024 Desert Legend Recipient is Caroline Haines, founder of the Lina Shore Golf Tournament
Caroline nicknamed “Lina,” started the Lina Shore Golf Tournament as a fun safe place for women to play golf over the Dinah Shore Golf Tournament Weekend.
Her first tournament was in 1989 and was simply a BBQ and fun gathering with 35 friends. The attendance doubled and then tripled, with over 220 golfers playing in 1998!
“I never advertised it, it was all word of mouth,” says Haines “That was when a lot of us were in the closet and didn’t want to be outed. We just wanted to feel comfortable."
Haines raised thousands of dollars for charity and made a two-year commitment to each cause. Lina Shore gave to several organizations including Project Newhope, Caring for Babies With Aids, Susan G Koman, HRC, The American Cancer Society and The American Heart Association. “It wasn’t a money maker,” Caroline explains, “it was about having a wonderful time with a group of women. We raised a lot of money for wonderful causes.
Our board of directors and volunteers accepts any nomination all year long, and votes on an annual recipient, based on the following criteria:
- self-identified as part of the LGBTQ+ community
- has contributed to the gay community
Go ahead and laugh. We're old, and we know it. But damn, we are in our prime, and we still love to party! Desert Legends caters mainly to the 45-65 year old demographic and events are taylor-made to make your weekend LEGENDARY! Don't worry we love ALL AGES of women, so everyone is welcome! We are primarily self-identified lesbians, but welcome ALL of our queer friends and family and straight allies! The 2025 events will be even bigger and better than ever- we can't wait to see you in the desert!
DINAH SHORE
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