Hall of Fame golfer Nancy Lopez focuses her attention on 'Folds of Honor' these days

In another time, Nancy Lopez brought massive attention to the LPGA Tour with her warm smile, bubbly personality and sensational putting game.

Lopez was a women’s pioneer who bounced onto the scene in 1978 out of New Mexico, won a record five straight events, nine total, and earned Player of the Year.

She was 21.

Forty-six years later, Lopez, who lives in Palm City, is trying to shed light on a military charity, "Folds of Honor." After helping out the cause the last few years by playing charity events, Lopez officially became a member of the board of directors in late January.

“Folds of Honor” provides scholarships to spouses and children of U.S. military service members and first responders who have died or been disabled. The founder is Col. Dan Rooney, the only F-16 fighter pilot with served three combat tours in Iraq. He’s also a big golfer and met Lopez a few years back at a Pro-Am in Nashville, where he debriefed Lopez about his military charity.

Now Lopez speaks as passionately about patriotism and “Folds” as any 30-foot putt she made in an epic career that landed her in the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1987. She’s arguably the most famous women’s golfer in history.

“I thought what he was doing was incredible,’’ Lopez said. “Former soldiers’ families and now first responders helping pay for their children’s education. It’s so important to do that. I’m always thinking about doing things to make my country better and give them a better opportunity. The Folds raised so much money to help so many families. They’re sacrificing for us and our country.’’

Lopez, 67, whose husband, Ed Russell, served in the military, still plays lots of golf, participates on the Legends (over-50) tour, and lives on a golf course – Piper Landing Yacht and Country Club.

Currently, Lopez is rehabbing a torn rotator cuff suffered in July when mishandling luggage at the airport. She’s taking it slow after surgery with therapy but still is on the course hitting 30-foot shots without taking a full swing.

She still wants to play a lot more golf.

“I’m making sure it heals and hopefully doesn’t tear again,’’ Lopez said. “I was playing a lot (before the injury). When I’m still out there, I’m very competitive.’’

Lopez moved to Martin County eight years ago as her husband lived on the Treasure Coast. He served in the Air Force for 16 years.

Lopez loves being a South Florida resident. “You can play golf all year,’’ Lopez said. “We live on a golf course. My husband loves to play golf. I have the accessibility to play and practice whenever I want. I lived on golf courses but never did the membership thing I do now.  I do play now more than I would if I didn’t live on a golf course.’’

Lopez’ favorite course in the world is Whistling Straights in Wisconsin, but she calls her own spot her favorite place to play in Florida.  “We have a great old course,’’’ Lopez said. “It tests all parts of my game when I play it.”

While the Wisconsin gem is her favorite to compete, the American Dunes Golf Club in Grand Haven, Michigan is her favorite place to visit. Dunes donates most of its funds to “Folds” after being redesigned by Jack Nicklaus.

Lopez has played events there for “Folds’’ and will co-host an event at Dunes in June that will raise money to honor women in the military - The Intrepid Invitational.

Lopez is awestruck when she’s on the military-flavored grounds. Taps is played at 1 p.m. each day with the sounds funneled into the golf carts. According to Lopez, “Everyone stands at attention with hands over their hearts.’’

“It’s a neat place,’’’ Lopez added. “You don’t walk in through a pro shop. You walk into an outdoor area with cement walls and it says  “Freedom isn’t Free.’’ And there’s pictures on the walls of fallen soldiers and a huge American flag on the course - one of the biggest I’ve ever seen flying. It’s a very emotional place to be.’’

Before Lopez’ greatest rookie year in golf history, she had attended Tulsa University for two years and played college golf.  Asked about advice she’d give young women golfers, she cites patience.

“Younger players think they’re ready to go on the tour and it’s too early,’’ Lopez said. “It’s always important to think of going to college. Collegiate golf is very strong and prepares yourself for the tour. It’s a tough tour now. We got some a lot of really great players with a lot of depth. You need something to fall back on if they won’t make it on the tour.’’

Lopez appears as busy as ever. For 10 years, she’s run a side venture – “Nancy Lopez Golf Adventures." It takes groups – mostly women – on golf trips around the globe. She just got back from the Dominican Republic where she hosted a 43-person coterie of amateur golfers. Lopez gets to teach them.

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“It brings more women to golf,’’ Lopez said. “It’s fun to see the smile on their faces when they hit a shot they’ve been working on or become a better putter. I feel like I’ve accomplished something.’’

And Lopez accomplished much in shining a glare on women’s golf. “When I came out on tour, I was just a baby,’’ Lopez said. “Attention started to come to the LPGA Tour at that time because I was winning so many tournaments. Hopefully, I brought attention to the golf world.

“Women’s golf back then, we didn’t have a lot of television time. The purses wasn’t as big as the men – still are not – but I’m hoping it brought more attention to the tour, which would bring more sponsorship money. I hoped I helped.’’

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This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Hall of Fame golfer Nancy Lopez on board of directors for 'Folds of Honor'