Holy Big Bertha! Golf Tourney Gets $36K Per Team
by July 18, 2005 12:00 am 63 views
An 18-hole golf tournament set for Aug. 20 at The Blessing golf course in Johnson is asking — and getting — $36,000 per two-man team. Yes, that’s $18,000 per player.
The participants will be paired with a Wal-Mart Stores Inc. executive and a celebrity to make a foursome. The event is a fundraiser for First Tee, the nonprofit organization that promotes life skills through golf. It’s also a rare chance for retail supplier bigwigs to spend the day golfing with the leaders of the Bentonville retailer.
Wal-Mart is an avid corporate supporter of First Tee, which was founded in 1997 with the help of golf enthusiast and retired Stephens Inc. Chairman Jack Stephens.
The Johnson event seeks only 18 teams. Nine team spots are already sold out (or $324,000 worth). First Tee is not allowing participants’ category competitors in, and the kicker is this year’s players get first right of refusal in 2006.