A golf tournament at PGA West on Tuesday will feature local soldiers and fund a nursing scholarship program.

At least 60 golfers will attend the 2009 Hi-Desert Medical Center Foundation’s Golf Classic at the Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course.

The golfers will include 12 active duty soldiers whose fees have been paid for by various individuals and organizations in honor of the 234th birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps that day, Foundation Executive Director Eileen Berne said.

Through golf registrations, a silent auction and sponsors, the fundraiser will raise at least $17,000 for the Foundation’s Martie Avels Nursing Scholarship program, Berne said.

“The economy has made these events particularly difficult,” she said. “People may not be able to come up with the foursome for golf, but they could sponsor a hero.”

It is great that the community made such an effort to make sure that several Marines had a day of golf at no cost, said Jennie Haskamp, public affairs officer for the U.S. Marine Air Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms.

“I think it is incredibly neat that the community constantly reaches out to the Marines and sailors stationed here at Twentynine Palms,” she said.