‘Par for the Paws’ brings golfers together for big prizes and pets in need
Calling all party animals: Pembroke Lakes Golf Club will host the fifth annual Par for the Paws tournament, promising friendly competition, big prizes and a cause worth celebrating.
The event starts at noon on Saturday, Oct. 18, with player registration, a complimentary barbecue and open bar. A shotgun scramble — a team-play strategy where golfers start simultaneously — follows at 1:30 p.m. and the awards banquet, silent auction and raffle begin at 6 p.m.
All proceeds go toward its organizer, Wonder Paws Rescue, a Fort Lauderdale-based nonprofit that’s rescued over 2,300 abandoned and abused dogs and cats in South Florida. Since the first Par for the Paws tournament in 2021, the organization has raised approximately $180,000 annually, according to cofounder and president Patricia Lara.
She said that 100% of the profits go into providing quality care for neglected pets.
“Everybody’s a volunteer. We have a small team. Everything goes back into medical, food, vaccines ... we pass on any [money] that we need to take care of our babies,” Lara said.
Wonder Paws Rescue started in 2019 when Lara and her daughter, cofounder and marketing director Paulina Claure chose to break away from fostering animals with other nonprofits and start their own venture.
Two years in, a volunteer suggested they host a golf tournament to fundraise after seeing how successful the event was for a horse rescue organization where she had previously worked.
“We probably have 50 people that travel just to come to our tournament, which is incredible,” Lara said. “We’re always hoping to attract more local golfers.”
Par for the Paws registration packages range from $165 for a single player to $2,000 for a supporting sponsor. Each ticket covers cart, range and course fees, food, unlimited drinks and admission to the after-party, with select packages including multiple raffle entries and a logo display on holes and carts.
Banquet-only and sponsorship bundles are also available for those who don’t want to hit the greens.
Participants are eligible to win up to $10,000 during a hole-in-one competition, $100,000 for a four-player shootout and a voucher for a seven-night stay at a resort.
If you can’t make it, Wonder Paws Rescue promises a donation of any size can still make a big impact.
The nonprofit will match all pledges up to $25,000 , a contribution made possible this year through two angel donors.
“We decided that we wanted to make our own decisions and provide the best care, best food, best everything that we could provide,” Lara said. “We thought that it was going to be a very small rescue in the beginning, but we were very lucky.”
This story was originally published September 30, 2025 at 8:37 AM.
