GREENSBORO, N.C. – Four local charities focused on helping feed families throughout central North Carolina will soon be the recipients of a combined one million Wyndham Rewards® points thanks to PGA TOUR golfer Chesson Hadley and his hole-in-one on the par three 16th hole earlier today at the Wyndham Championship. And in a surprise move, title sponsor Wyndham Rewards also awarded a Million points to Hadley.
The four charities—Backpack Beginnings, Forsyth Backpacks, Out of the Garden Project and United Way of Greater High Point—are a part of Birdies fore Backpacks, a key charitable initiative of Wyndham Championship Fore! Good, the signature philanthropic platform of the Wyndham Championship. Hadley’s nine iron into the 160-yard 16th hole landed past the hole but rolled back down the hill to the cup.
“I have never had a hole-in-one before, and it came off just right,” Hadley said. “It landed right where it needed to and rolled back perfectly into the cup. It rolled in just like a putt. I lost it! I did some flying giraffe-type move across the tee box. I was pretty excited. It was so great to finally have that happen and celebrate with my caddy and the guys I was playing with.
“I know we won a million points for charity, which is great, and Wyndham Rewards was first class – they have been such a great sponsor and have been for so long. This was my very first PGA TOUR event, they gave me ‑‑ Mark Brazil, Wyndham and John McConnell — they gave me my very first exemption in a PGA TOUR event, and I love this place.
“To be able to have the success I had today and to make that one and to win some points for charity is just incredible. Obviously, I’ve gotten some points, too. I’m sure my wife has already got the spot picked out where we’ll vacation. It was a great day and fingers crossed it is enough to get me into the FedEx Cup. It’s just been a tremendous day and hopefully I can top it off by making it to New York.”
A long-standing tradition at the fan-friendly tournament, which is contested annually at Sedgefield Country Club and is the last tournament of the PGA TOUR regular season, the prize-winning shot sees Hadley join the list of previous hole-in-one winners, including C.T. Pan (2020), Ben Crane (2017), Luke Donald (2016) and Derek Lamely (2011).
Named the No. 1 hotel rewards program by readers of USA TODAY, Wyndham Rewards is the blue thread that ties together two of the world’s largest travel companies: Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, the world’s largest hotel franchising company and Wyndham Destinations, the world’s largest vacation ownership business, now part of Travel + Leisure Co. Designed to be the world’s most generous rewards program, Wyndham Rewards caters to the everyday traveler with more than 50,000 hotels, vacation club resorts and vacation rentals worldwide.
“Giving back is a hallmark of the Wyndham Championship and the PGA TOUR,” Eliot Hamlisch, EVP of Loyalty and Wyndham Rewards program leader said. “Birdies Fore Backpacks does tremendous good for thousands throughout the Triad and we hope that this latest donation of points—good toward free night stays, gift cards and more—will help to continue that great work.”
Through Birdies Fore Backpacks, the Wyndham Championship works with local organizations to help feed children from families in need around the Piedmont Triad. Backpacks are packed with nutritionally-sound meals, which families take home every weekend. Just $5 can feed one child for a weekend while $150 can feed a child for a school year. Since its creation in 2014, the program has provided some 590,000 meals to thousands of local families. The points will be split evenly among the four charitable organizations.
To learn more about Birdies Fore Backpacks and Wyndham Championship Fore! Good, visit https://www.wyndhamchampionship.com/about/charities/
About the Wyndham Championship:
Contested annually on the Donald Ross-designed course at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, N.C., the Wyndham Championship was founded in 1938 and is the sixth-oldest event on the PGA TOUR excluding the Majors. The tournament thanks title sponsor Wyndham Rewards and presenting sponsor Truist for their continued support. Additional tournament information is available at www.wyndhamchampionship.com and the tournament’s social media channels, including the Wyndham Championship Facebook page, Twitter and Instagram.
About Wyndham Rewards:
Named the number one hotel rewards program by readers of USA TODAY, Wyndham Rewards® is the world’s most generous rewards program with more than 50,000 hotels, vacation club resorts and vacation rentals worldwide. Designed for the everyday traveler, members earn a guaranteed 1,000 points with every qualified stay and may redeem points for a range of rewards, including free nights at approximately 9,000 hotels or tens of thousands of vacation club resorts and vacation rentals globally through affiliation with Wyndham Destinations and others. Wyndham Rewards has 89 million enrolled members around the globe. Join for free today at www.wyndhamrewards.com. You’ve earned this.®
About Wyndham Hotels & Resorts:
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (NYSE: WH) is the world’s largest hotel franchising company by the number of properties, with approximately 9,000 hotels across nearly 95 countries on six continents. Through its network of approximately 798,000 rooms appealing to the everyday traveler, Wyndham commands a leading presence in the economy and midscale segments of the lodging industry. The Company operates a portfolio of 21 hotel brands, including Super 8®, Days Inn®, Ramada®, Microtel®, La Quinta®, Baymont®, Wingate®, AmericInn®, Hawthorn Suites®, Trademark Collection® and Wyndham®. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts is also a leading provider of hotel management services. The Company’s award-winning Wyndham Rewards® loyalty program offers 89 million enrolled members the opportunity to redeem points at thousands of hotels, vacation club resorts and vacation rentals globally. For more information, visit www.wyndhamhotels.com.
About Wyndham Destinations:
Wyndham Destinations is the world’s largest vacation ownership business operating more than 245 vacation club resorts around the world that offer a contemporary take on the timeshare model. The brand portfolio – featuring Club Wyndham®, WorldMark® by Wyndham, Margaritaville Vacation Club® by Wyndham, and Shell Vacations Club – offers travelers the chance to own their vacation and explore places they’ve never visited before, year after year. More than 850,000 owners enjoy stays in a home away from home, featuring spacious suites with separate bedrooms, fully-equipped kitchens, living and dining areas, as well as resort-style amenities and services. Learn more at WyndhamDestinations.com.
