On Monday, May 19, the Hidden Valley Country Club will host the Rex Mook Memorial Golf Tournament, honoring the life and legacy of Rex Mook—a devoted husband, father, friend, and athlete who passed away in July 2023 after a courageous battle with ALS.
Mook is remembered as a man full of heart and character, known for his love of golf and the Salem community.
His family and close friends say organizing this tournament was a natural way to honor his legacy and shine a spotlight on a disease that still leaves many questions unanswered.
Today, community members came together on the golf course—not just to play, but to make a difference, to raise money and awareness for ALS, a disease that continues to impact families across the country.
Emily Mook, Rex Mook’s daughter, shared her family’s loss: “We miss him terribly.”
Rex Mook was a beloved father, husband, and friend—someone who felt most at home on the golf course. He passed away in July 2023 after a battle with ALS, a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Currently, there is no cure.
Jim Robinson, Mook’s best friend and organizer of the tournament, said, “In his memory, in his honor, we decided to hold this tournament. He was a really good golfer, so this is the perfect way to honor him. He loved this course; he belonged at Hidden Valley, and we are raising money for ALS research.”
For Robinson, the tournament is deeply personal. Rex was his best friend, and Robinson also lost his mother to ALS in the 1990s. Honoring Rex through the game they both loved, he says, is healing—but also necessary.
Michele Dupree, development director for the ALS Therapy Development Institute, emphasized the urgency of funding, stating, “ALS is not incurable; it’s underfunded. We do feel that we have 35 scientists. If we had more funding, we could be moving faster. ALS is a devastating disease, usually giving people about 2-4 years to live.”
That urgency is what drives the second annual Rex Mook Memorial Golf Tournament. More than 100 golfers teed off at Hidden Valley Country Club, raising funds and awareness while pushing forward in the fight against ALS.
Emily Mook expressed the family’s struggle, saying, “It was definitely a devastating blow for us to learn this was the disease he had because there is no cure. I know they are actively working to find one, but it’s a very tough diagnosis, obviously.”
Memorial golf tournaments have become more prevalent for fundraising for various causes. Robinson noted, “It can handle about a hundred people, and that’s a lot of people that can help for a good cause.”
Last year, their goal was $20,000, which was surpassed. All proceeds will go towards ALS research. For more information: Rex Mook Memorial Golf Tournament - ALS Community
This year, their goal is $30,000, and they are currently at $27,000. Rex Mook Memorial Golf Tournament - ALS Community