In December, some Fort Lewis soldiers who deployed to Iraq found a shipping container jammed full of about 50,000 golf balls.

Although they were excited about their golf treasure, they only had two junior-sized clubs with which to hit the balls.

When Kara Brevet, the club manager at the Oakbrook Golf and Country Club, in Lakewood, saw a news story about their predicament she wanted to do something to help.

"I thought who better to help the soldiers than us," she said. "We have a heavy military membership here, and it's the least we can do.  I thought this would be a great way to thank the soldiers who are out there fighting for us. ..."  She sent out a mass email to the club's 200 or so members asking for golf clubs and ball donations.  The very next day she sent out the mass email she received donations of golf clubs, and they haven't stopped coming in, she said.

"Golfers constantly switch clubs, and upgrade when new ones come out," she said. "So people are just bringing in the clubs that were sitting in the garage not getting any use.  Some of the clubs we're receiving are pretty new, and all of them are in really good condition. "

Golf seems to be growing in popularity during deployments as other organizations throughout the nation are sponsoring similar ventures.

In Arizona soldiers who are deployed recently received over 200,000 golf balls and 16,000 golf clubs, including about 200 new clubs from PING which is headquartered in Phoenix.

Also a group called Bunkers in Baghdad was formed to collect golf balls and golf clubs for soldiers in combat zones as well as for Wounded Warriors programs.

The one thing all the programs have in common is a desire to thank the soldiers for their service.

"Sending the soldiers golf clubs is something we should do,' Brevet said. "It was something I thought we should do for them."

Anyone interested in donating golf clubs, golf balls, or other equipment, can make a donation at the country club located at 8102 Zircon Drive South West.  Donations will be accepted through Jan. 15 in the main office.  The clubs will be shipped courtesy of the country club later this month.