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Not just for country clubs LHS grad Santiago aims to show that golf is for everyone By rich Fisher At age 25, Paloma Santiago has a resume that should make her feel welcome at any golf course. It started at Lawrence High School, where she was a standout player and captain for the boys’ team. In 2016, she graduated with a degree in business from Methodist University, one of 18 accredited PGA Golf Management University programs in America. During those college years she served as a professional golf management intern at Jasna
Polana, Royce Brook Golf Club and Upper Montclair Country Club. Upon graduation, Santiago was elected to PGA Membership and in 2017 earned her PGA card, making her a professional golfer. She spent one year as first assistant for Spirit Golf Management in Hopewell. That same year, she became a member of PGA LEAD/PGA of America, which was created to identify, mentor and progress PGA members from diverse backgrounds, who aspire to assume leadership positions in the Association. PGA LEAD also aids in developing PGA members who have a desire to serve and make an impact on nonprofit boards within the communi-
ties where they work and live. Along with all that, Santiago is currently a PGA teaching pro. And yet . . . “I’m a PGA professional, and sometimes when I walk into clubs I’ve never been to before, I get the ‘OK, who are you?’ and it’s a little standoffish,” Santiago says. “To be honest, golf doesn’t need to be like that because anyone and everybody can play.” Which is why, in 2017, Santiago created Live Golf, a nonprofit organization designed to show all hopeful linksters that they can play, and that the sport is not just a country club activity. “We just want to introduce and expose the game of golf See SANTIAGO, Page 7
An advocate for caretakers Local author gives advice on how to take care of aging parents By DeBra haLLisey
Joseph Rodrigues goes for a basket during a home scrimmage on Dec. 10, 2019 against Scotch PlainsFanwood. For more boys’ basketball coverage, turn to Page 20. (Photo by Suzette J. Lucas.)
In 2015, life changed for me. I became responsible for my disabled mother after my father’s death. As I took on the roles of financial adviser, caregiver and social director—as well as my continuing role as daughter—I found herself asking “what do I do?” and “where do I start?” I brought my 25 years of experience as a consultant building and enhancing corporate training programs for Fortune 500 companies in the United States and Canada to the
problem and, in the process, learned how many other people are in a similar situation caring for a parent, a sibling, a spouse, or significant other. I have used the knowledge I gained to develop advocateformomanddad.com—a website that offers practical advice for caregivers and lessons learned from others on how they handle challenges on legal, financial, insurance and caregiving issues. I recently published a book, “Your Caregiver Relationship Contract: How To Navigate the Minefield of New Roles and Expectations.” It is a lessons learned book based on my last six years as a caregiver, first for my father and now, my mother. I became a caregiver in 2014, when my father was diagnosed
with congestive heart failure. Rather, I should say, I identified myself as a caregiver when Dad was diagnosed. I am currently and have been for five years my mother’s caregiver. She is legally blind with mobility issues but otherwise is in good health. Being a caregiver is hard work. I don’t mean the physical work of helping your loved one shower or dress. I mean the mental and emotional work it takes to be a caregiver. In doing this work, I realized that the most important lesson for me is that becoming Mom’s caregiver changed our mother/daughter relationship. Our contract, if you will. This idea of a relationship contract resounded with my clients and See CARETAKER, Page 8
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