Jonesboro, AR – Jonesboro Right Now – Golfers can prepare to take to the green for a good cause later this month, as Jonesboro D.A.R.E. prepares to host its second annual Tee Up for D.A.R.E Scramble.
Four-person teams will compete in the scramble, which includes mulligans. The first tournament was hosted in October 2025, which raised around $12,000-15,000 for the program. D.A.R.E officer Lyane Prater told JRN that event organizers were aiming to raise a similar amount this year.
“The money that we do raise from this golf scramble, we will put it back into investing in our kids that we see throughout the year,” Prater said. “That’s the goal of everything we that we do, is to reach all the kids and try to provide what we can for them. It’s bridging that gap between police and kiddos.”
Jonesboro D.A.R.E. sees about 1,400 kids a year. The program, which is manned by two officers including Prater, teaches kids in Jonesboro Public Schools and local private schools about drug abuse resistance during the fall semesters. During the spring, the program moves to the Valley View and Nettleton school districts.
Funds raised from the golf tournament, as well as other fundraisers the program hosts, such as the D.A.R.E. 2 Show Your Ride car show and Color Run, are used to purchase rewards, shirts, prizes, and other supplies for the students.
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This year’s tournament will feature new prizes, provide a burger lunch for golfers, and start earlier in the day. The Jonesboro Fire Department will be helping out with the ball drop again this year, dropping balls from a bucket truck to see who can get the closest to the hole. The winner of that competition will win a deluxe travel cover from Academy Sports.
The top three teams will win cash prizes, as well as golf balls and tees from Academy. Other competitions in the tournament include seeing which golfer has the longest drive, with the winner receiving a Pro L2 Range Finder, also donated by Academy. Golfers can also compete to see who can hit the ball closest to a pin, with that winner receiving a sound bar donated by SS Custom Golf Carts.
For those unable to attend the scramble, Prater said people can still support D.A.R.E. in other ways, through monetary or in-kind donations, or through volunteering.
The tournament has some volunteer opportunities available. Prater said volunteers can assist with check-in, checking on teams as they play, among other tasks. Those interested can email dare@jonesboroar.gov or contact Prater at lprater@jonesboroar.gov.
Events like the scramble help show D.A.R.E. is still around and working in the community, Prater said.
“They know that we’re still out there doing our thing and everything. But then there’s the other part where not everybody realizes that we’re in schools; we’re still seeing the kiddos,” she said. “Our curriculum is constantly changing, and it’s updating as time goes by. So, it’s just getting the word out there of ‘Hey, we’re still seeing all these kids; we’re still doing all of this.'”
This year’s title sponsor is Roof Raiders. Quick Keys is sponsoring lunch, and Craighead Co-Op, Focus Bank and the Solutions Group are bronze sponsors.
In addition, holes are sponsored, with sponsors including West Powerspots LLC, Twin Rivers IV and Wellness Lounge, NEA Performance, CrossFit Ridge City, Nestle, SS Custom Golf Carts, and EC Barton. Hole sponsorships are available until Friday, Sept. 4.
All other sponsorships, except title and lunch sponsors, are available until Friday, Sept. 11. Those interested in sponsoring can email Prater at lprater@jonesboroar.gov.
The Tee Up for D.A.R.E. Scramble is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 25, beginning at 11:30 a.m. at the Ridgepointe Country Club, located at 2510 Ridgepointe Drive.
Registration is still open, costing $600 per team. Teams who register by Friday, Sept. 4 will receive a pullover, but the final cutoff for registration is Monday, Sept. 21. Around 12-13 teams have registered, Prater said.
To register, call 870-761-0545, or email dare@jonesboroar.gov.
“Come on out,” Prater said. “It’s gonna be a great time.”
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