Hardscrabble Country Club to again host golf tournament
by October 1, 2019 8:45 pm 2,567 views
Hardscrabble Country Club in Fort Smith will once again be home to a golf tournament that attracts professional golfers. The All Pro Tour and the United Way of Fort Smith Area announced Tuesday (Oct. 1) a two-year partnership to host the United Way Charity Golf Classic.
The event’s primary sponsor is Cherokee Casino and Hotel Roland, and is expected to host 132 PGA hopefuls. While the event is not affiliated with the PGA, it is the first national golf event in Fort Smith since the Nationwide Tour – a PGA event – ended a 13-year run at Hardscrabble in 2010.
“We are excited to bring pro golf back to the Fort Smith area. Hardscrabble CC is a great test of golf and a perfect setting for this event. Fort Smith has a great legacy of hosting professional golf events and we are certain this will be one of the best events on our 2020 schedule,” said Gary DeSerrano, president of All Pro Tour.
The inaugural United Way Charity Golf Classic will be held May 4-9, 2020 at Hardscrabble. The week will include a pro-am event, clinics, parties and a 72-hole championship finishing on Saturday, May 9th. The tournament purse is expected to be $130,000 with the tournament champion taking home $30,000.
“United Way of Fort Smith Area is very excited to partner with All Pro Tour, Hardscrabble Country Club, and Cherokee Casino and Hotel Roland to bring professional golf back to our region. The tournament will be a great economic boost for our local community and businesses while directly benefitting our 32 Partner Agencies and United Way Initiatives, “said Eddie Lee Herndon, president/CEO, United Way of Fort Smith Area.
Herndon said Arvest Bank and ORR Automotive have made “early commitments” to the event, with 100% of proceeds going to United Way agencies in the region.
The Double Oak, Texas-based All Pro Tour has been in operation since 1994 and conducts professional golf tournaments in Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas. Past players include Bubba Watson and Ryan Palmer. Players are recent college graduates, conditional members of the PGA and Korn Ferry Tours, as well as players from Canada and South American.
Other All Pro Tour sites include Bella Vista, Ark., Muskogee, Okla., Broken Arrow, Okla., Texarkana, Texas, and Texarkana, Ark.