紐約上州台灣同鄉高爾夫球俱樂部李登輝杯 Upstate New York Taiwanese Golf Club

1960－1970年代早期來美的台灣留學生，二十年後大多已成家立業，工作穩定，經濟上也有較好的基礎，打高爾夫球成為許多中年人愛好的週末休閒健康運動。

「紐約上州台灣同鄉高爾夫球俱樂部」 (Upstate New York Taiwanese Golf Club) 於1992年成立，發起人及提供贊助的是台商僑領李俊廷先生(1935—2009)。李先生台中市人，東海大學商學系畢業，1979年移民美國，在紐約上州雪城創立「李連貿易公司」，是一位成功的企業家，很熱心服務鄉親和社區，曾任雪城台灣同鄉會會長，和紐約上州台商會會長，與當地政商各界關係良好。

繳費成為俱樂部永久會員的，先後一共有七十多人，來自紐約上州Albany, Ithaca, Rochester, Syracuse, Rome-Utica等地區。每年固定從五月至九月的第三個禮拜六輪流在不同地區比賽，總共五場。每次比賽依每一位參賽人的程度，分成男三組女一組，以十八洞淨桿數決定各組的優勝獲獎名次，比賽擊球最遠 (Longest Drive)及上果領最接近旗杆 (Close to the Pin) 的人當然也有獎。全年選四場比賽總淨桿數最少的球員獲得當年總冠軍。

2001年透過在康乃爾大學任教的陳河田教授，也是當年李登輝在康乃爾修博士時的好友及球伴的聯繫，李登輝總統贈送給俱樂部一座高20英寸的精緻獎杯（見下圖），這項高爾夫球賽逐正式定名為「李總統杯」，獎杯由每年比賽的總冠軍球員保管一年，到2015年已經有十六位不同球員的姓名刻在獎杯的座台上。2010年開始，俱樂部又增加一項「李俊廷杯」，以紀念發起人李俊廷先生的貢獻。

紐約上州幅員廣大，台美鄉親分散各地。高爾夫球俱樂部不但提倡一項有益健康的休閒活動，也提供給大家定期相聚的機會，多了一個能增進彼此聯繫與關懷，互通信息的橋樑。

Upstate New York Taiwanese Golf Club—The President Lee Cup

The earlier Taiwanese graduate students of the 1960-1970 era had successfully settled in America’s codiety 20 years later with secure jobs and established families. They selected golf as one of the favorable recreational sports to spend their leisure and time and disposable income for the weekends.

“The Upstate New York Taiwanese Golf Club” was organized by Mr. Charles Li (李俊廷1935-2009) in 1992 . Mr. Li, an ethusiatic amature golfer, was born in Taichun and graduated from Tonghai University with B.A. degree in Business. The family emigrated to the U.S. in 1979 and established “Li-Land Trade & Radiator Service, Inc.” in Syracuse. A successful business man and community leader, he served as the President of local Taiwanese American Association and the Upstate New York Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce.

There were about 70 due-paid permanent members of the Club. Members came from several Upstate New York communities, including Albany, Ithaca, Rochester, Rome-Utica, and Syracuse. A total of five games were played each year from May to September and rotated among different areas. Participating players were divided into 4 groups, 3 for men and 1 for women, according to eac individual’s level of handicap. Winning was decided based on the net scores of 18 holes. The player who had the lowest total net score of the best 4 out of 5 games in the year earned the Grand Champion title.

In 2001, through the effort of Professor Joseph Chen （陳河田）of Cornell University, President Dr. Teng-Fui Lee （李登輝）donated a 2-foot tall elegant trophy to the Club for the tournament. The two were good friends and playing-partners when Lee pursued his Ph. D. at Cornell. Thus the tournament was formally named “The President Lee Cup”. There have been 15 player’s names engraved on the trophy since 2001. Started in 2010, “The Charli Li Cup” was also created in memory of the Club founder for his contributions.

Taiwanese American residents are vastly scattered throughout Upstate New York. The annual golf tournaments not only promoted healthful recreation, they also provided a venue for friends to meet, to communicate, and to share their concerns over issues in Taiwan.