The fourth annual Stanley Liang Memorial Golf Tournament recently raised $2,500 for Sunshine Services in Sun City, a group that assists residents with wheel chair and other health-related items. Held over a weekend at the Quail Run Golf Course, the tournament included 72 players. Last year, the Liang family donated nearly $1,800 to the organization. To date, the tournament’s four-year total is $7,300.

The tournament was first conceived by the family of Stanley Liang, who passed away in 2020. Liang and his wife, Linda, moved to Sun City in 2013 from West Lebanon, NH. As business owners in New Hampshire, they embraced the concept of community philanthropy and continued that tradition in Sun City. Stanley loved golf and although he never got a hole-in-one, he loved to golf in his orange knickers, matching hat, white shirt and socks. The Liang’s also were known for their annual beer and beef Memorial Day festivities where friends, old and new, gathered. The family has continued that tradition as part of the memorial golf tournament.

Long-time contributors to Sunshine Services, the Liang family, after coming up with the idea of a golf tournament in Stanley’s memory, decided all donations would go to the Sun City organization.

Sunrise Services was formed in 1961 after area residents were appointed to the Sunshine Committee to help others who were unable to pay their annual $40 Recreation Centers of Sun City dues, according to the organization’s brochure. Four members of the former Sun City Civic Association, now the Sun City Homeowners Association, each contributed $40 to establish a fund for the Sunshine Committee. From there, a Sick and Visiting Committee was established led by the Rev. E. Duane Thistlethwaite.

After learning that a Sun City resident had to rent a hospital bed for $35 for one month, the committee purchased three hospital beds as well as other second-hand equipment. In addition, Sun City residents also donated items and the first bed and wheelchair were loaned out in April 1962, the organization’s brochure added. In 1965, the Del Webb company donated a building site and constructed the first Sunshine building on Coggins Drive; it had $8,000 worth of equipment. Then, in 1971, Del Webb again donated land and constructed a building at 9980 Santa Fe Drive, its current residence. The organization has 22,000 square feet to house everything from medical beds, to wheelchairs, bedside commodes, crutches, walkers and rollaway beds. There is even children’s equipment for visiting grandchildren that includes cribs, high chairs, baby walkers and more.

And it is all free.

Although there is no charge for the equipment, donations are appreciated and that is where the Liang family stepped in. Four years ago, Stanley’s wife Linda, and their three children, spouses, grandchildren and great grandchildren planned the memorial tournament. The Liang family has made a commitment to hold another tournament next year.

Following the tournament, the beer and beef tradition continued with beef rounds sizzling on the grill with side dishes that included baked beans, salads and more. There was also a table full of desserts. In addition to the usual tournament challenges, like the longest putt and most accurate drive, there were some memorable moments like stopping on hole 4 shortly after teeing off to toast Stanley; the Liang family home is next to the fairway. On hole 5, players had to use Stanley’s specially designed putter to sink the ball in the cup.