Bender impacting golfers of all ages and abilities

Nancy Bender is the golf professional at Creekside Golf Course and Training Center in Valparaiso, where she loves introducing new people to the game of golf and helping experienced golfers improve their game. Her interest in the game dates back to her early days growing up across the street from the Valparaiso County Club.

“The game was enticing to me,” she said. “I started watching the game on TV and the pros made it look so easy. I was all in.”

Although her parents weren’t golfers, they encouraged their kids’ interest in it. At age 8, Bender began golfing.

“My parents took my two brothers, Bob and Dennis, and myself to Fetlas to purchase an iron from a barrel of used clubs,” Bender recalled. “The family had a 40-acre farm on which we designed our own three-hole course.”

Bender also has a love for teaching. She attended Valparaiso University where she earned her degree in secondary education, specializing in social studies. She was hired at Valparaiso Community

Schools and taught government, economics and U.S. history at Valparaiso High School for 25 years. She also met her husband through education. He was hired the same year as a science teacher at the local middle school.

Her love of golf and of teaching made her the perfect candidate to coach golf, which she did at the high school level for 22 years. She has also been involved in the First Tee organization since its inception.

Creekside was the first site in the world to have a chapter of First Tee.

“The international organization uses golf as an avenue to develop character,” said Bender.

“There is no referee on the course. The player enforces the rules. Learning the game challenges one’s honesty, integrity, judgment, etc.”

Bender wears three hats within the organization: program director, recognized coach and fundraiser. “We program in Valparaiso, Michigan City, Laporte and Rensselaer, impacting over 4,000 youths ages 7-17,” she said.

Bender also teaches lessons and classes through Creekside and is an LPGA (Ladies Professional Golf Association) teaching professional, which was a