GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Wyndham Championship, in conjunction with local board members of The First Tee of the Triad, hosted a special fundraiser at Sedgefield Country Club Monday night and raised nearly $50,000 for The First Tee of the Triad, it was announced today. The 72nd annual Wyndham Championship is set for Aug. 15-21, 2011 at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, N.C.
The First Tee of the Triad is the local chapter of The First Tee, an initiative of the World Golf Foundation, has as its mission, “To impact the lives of young people by providing learning facilities and educational programs that promote character-development and life-enhancing values through the game of golf.” Additional information about The First Tee of the Triad is available at www.thefirstteetriad.org.
The two-tiered fundraising event began with golf on the Donald Ross-designed Sedgefield course that hosts the Wyndham, and resumed in the evening with the primary fundraising portion of the affair hosted by PGA TOUR Radio and Golf Channel commentator John Magginnes. In addition, many people in attendance joined The First Tee Club, a group of people who support The First Tee of the Triad with annual $500 donations in support of junior golf.
2010 Wyndham Championship winner Arjun Atwal, who is playing the Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte this week, attended the event and served multiple capacities. Atwal played with golfers competing in the First Tee fund raising tournament and then took part in the evening portion of the event. The reigning Wyndham champ also joined The First Tee Club.
Through the fundraiser, corporate pledges and people joining The First Tee Club, the event raised nearly $50,000 for The First Tee of the Triad. The Greensboro Jaycees sponsored the evening portion of the event by underwriting all expenses. Because of their generous support, every dollar raised will go directly to The First Tee of the Triad.
“On behalf of everyone associated with The First Tee of the Triad, we appreciate this event very much,” The First Tee of the Triad board chairman Jim Klutz said. “The Wyndham Championship has been a great partner since our chapter was founded almost five years ago, but to have so many other people, including our board members who helped plan the event, and companies step up like they did Monday night was amazing. We thank Arjun Atwal, the Greensboro Jaycees, all of the companies that made corporate pledges and certainly all of the individuals who joined the First Tee Club. All of these people are making a difference in the lives of young people who are the future of golf and the future of our society. To all of them, we say ‘thank you very much.’”
The 2011 Wyndham Championship is set for Aug. 15-21 at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, N.C. Tickets will be available soon at wyndhamchampionship.com or through the tournament office. The tournament thanks title sponsor Wyndham Worldwide, presenting sponsor BB&T and Premier Partners, Flow Automotive, Harris Teeter and VF Corporation for their continued support. Additional tournament information, including ticket packages and sponsorship information, is available at wyndhamchampionship.com or through the tournament office at (336) 379-1570. For more information about Wyndham Worldwide, please visit www.wyndhamworldwide.com.
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About The First Tee:
The First Tee, an initiative of the World Golf Foundation, has as its mission, “To impact the lives of young people by providing learning facilities and educational programs that promote character-development and life-enhancing values through the game of golf.” The goal of The First Tee is to provide the golf-learning facilities and the experience that will enable kids from every walk of life to partake of a game that teaches values for life and which can be played for a lifetime. The First Tee of the Triad operates at Tanglewood Park and Winston Lake Golf Course in Winston-Salem and Gillespie Golf Course in Greensboro. The First Tee of the Triad is one of 204 chapters operating at some 692 facilities in all 50 states and five foreign countries with more than 3 million participants. More than 3,300 schools also participate in the program. Founded by the World Golf Foundation in 1997, The First Tee is a way to bring golf to children that otherwise would not be exposed to the game or its positive values. The program is overseen and has the active support of committee members representing Augusta National Golf Club, the Ladies Professional Golf Association, PGA of America, PGA TOUR and the United States Golf Association. Former President George Bush serves as Honorary Chairman.
