Jonesboro, AR – (JonesboroRightNow.com) – Oct. 4, 2025 – Community members in Jonesboro gathered Friday to have a game of golf with a shared goal of supporting local youth.
The Jonesboro Police Department hosted its “Tee Up for DARE Scramble” on Friday, Oct. 3, at the Ridgepointe Country Club. Several teams participated in the event, made up of employees from local businesses.
Before the scramble began, many lined up for a ball drop to be held, where a bucket of balls was dropped onto the green from a fire truck ladder. Each team could spend up to $5 per ball, and if their ball was in the very bottom of the hole, then they would win a prize.
Heath Cole, with Roof Raiders, was the winner of the ball drop. He said he was actually on the truck ladder when the balls dropped, and the news caught him off guard.
“I was 3,000 feet up in the air. I didn’t even realize it, and they told me, ‘You won,’” Cole said.
DARE officer Lynae Prater described the event’s atmosphere as “energetic.” She said seeing all the sponsor signs and teams on the green meant everything to her.
Participating teams agreed, with ones JRN spoke with saying everyone was courteous and friendly.
“The food’s been great, the ball drop was a really cool start, and the weather’s nice,” said Braden Prestidge, with First National Bank.
“It’s a beautiful day to be out here on the course, and I think it’s been a great turnout,” said Hailey Westbrook, with Craighead Electric Cooperative.
Those who attended the tournament said it was important to come out to give back to the community and protect the children.
“We are all about giving back to our communities and serving those communities, just as our local police department does,” Westbrook said.
“I went through the program when I was a kid in about the fifth or sixth grade and saw the difference,” Rushing said. “I work in the ER in Mountain Home, and I see kids coming in with possible overdoses, and overdoses on everything from Tylenol to fentanyl, so it’s important for them to know the dangers of this stuff.”
The event also included chances to win prizes like a YETI backpack cooler, a golf ball grill, and a $100 gift certificate to Brooks Golf Center in Jonesboro. Participants also participated in a hole-in-one contest and a 50/50 raffle.
Below are the winners for the event and other activities:
- Golf tournament
- 1st place: Signature Bank of Arkansas
- 2nd place: Roof Raiders #2
- Golf ball grill and Brooks Gift Card raffle: Jacob Johnson
- 50/50 raffle: Hailey Westbrook
Prater previously told JRN the goal in the tournament’s first year was to raise between $10,000 to $15,000. While she could not confirm the exact total raised, she confirmed that they met their goal.
“This couldn’t have even happened without them [the sponsors], and we have made more than what we anticipated, more than any other event that we have hosted so far,” Prater said.
Prater said the money raised will be used to help support the DARE program, being used to buy books, T-shirts, prizes, and treats for the 1,400 children they see. The funds’ benefits also play a role outside of school. She explained they want children to do more than just sit at home and play video games.
“Give them something to do, just having that capability and the money there to be able to do something out at a park and cook hot dogs or burgers for them, and just have more of us and the kids time,” Prater said.
Despite some first-time hurdles, Prater said she is thrilled to keep this going yearly and hopes to grow it further. As for what the future holds, she said she hopes to have more variety next time.
“I didn’t want to get too crazy with it, especially not knowing absolutely everything about a golf tournament, but I have a better mindset for it,” she said. “I’ve talked with some of the players, and they’ve been giving some greater suggestions that I really appreciate.”
