Gretzky and Leonard among a group of 10 celebrities scheduled to make their Classic debut; Tom Dreesen set to play in his 17th consecutive Classic and 20th overall
LA QUINTA, Calif. – Wayne Gretzky, hockey’s “Great One,” and former boxing world champion and 1976 Olympic gold medalist Sugar Ray Leonard are set to make their inaugural appearances as celebrity amateur golfers in the Bob Hope Classic, and are joined by actor Kurt Russell among the initial celebrity athletes and entertainers who are scheduled to play in the first four rounds (72 holes) of the 52nd Bob Hope Classic, Jan. 17-23.
Other early celebrity participants in the $5 million Bob Hope Classic, a desert tradition since 1960, include: musicians Alice Cooper, Tommy Thayer (KISS guitarist) and Don Felder (formerly of The Eagles), country music singer Pat Green, actors Craig T. Nelson (Parenthood), Anthony Anderson (Law and Order), Rob Morrow (Numb3ers, Northern Exposure), Peter Gallagher (Covert Action, The OC, Mr. Deeds), Scott Wolf (V, Party of Five), Joel Gretsch (V), Oliver Hudson (Rules of Engagement), Kyle MacLachlan (Desperate Housewives), and Nigel Lythgoe (So You Think You Can Dance, American Idol producer), actor/comedian Kevin Nealon (Saturday Night Live, Happy Gilmore, Weeds), actor/comedian/game show host John O’Hurley, comedians Tom Dreesen and Ron White, Tampa Bay Rays All-Star third baseman Evan Longoria, former National Football League and Major League Baseball star Bo Jackson, NFL Hall of Fame defensive end Bruce Smith, former Green Bay Packers wide receiver and NFL Network analyst Sterling Sharpe, former NFL wide receiver Willie Gault, sports broadcaster Ann Liguori, and television news personality Bret Baier.
Dreesen will make his 17th consecutive Bob Hope Classic appearance and 20th overall, joining Bob Hope, Andy Williams, Glen Campbell, Johnny Bench, Gerald Ford, Gary Morton and Lawrence Welk as the Classic’s only celebrities to play 20 years. Dreesen has the longest active playing streak in the Classic among celebrities, and that streak is fourth longest all-time, behind Hope, Ford and Welk.
Cooper is scheduled to make his 13th Bob Hope Classic appearance in the last 14 years. Green, Morrow, Gallagher, Wolf, Lythgoe, Gault, Liguori and Baier are scheduled to make their Classic debuts, along with Gretzky and Leonard, in the celebrity golfing field.
The celebrity field’s schedule is as follows: Wednesday, Jan. 19, SilverRock Resort; Thursday, Jan. 20, La Quinta Country Club; Friday, Jan. 21, Nicklaus Private at PGA WEST; Saturday, Jan. 22, Arnold Palmer Private at PGA WEST.
Bill Haas, who won his first PGA TOUR title at the 2010 Bob Hope Classic and was one of seven golfers to win multiple PGA TOUR events in 2010, plans to defend his Classic title next month.
For the second consecutive year, the $5 million Bob Hope Classic will be played wholly within La Quinta, at La Quinta Country Club, SilverRock Resort, and the Palmer and Nicklaus Private courses at PGA WEST. Practice rounds for the 2011 Classic at all four courses will be conducted Monday, Jan. 17 and Tuesday, Jan. 18. Tournament play begins Wednesday, Jan. 19 and concludes Sunday, Jan. 23 at the Palmer Private Course at PGA WEST.
The Bob Hope Classic’s website, www.bobhopeclassic.com, is one online platform by which fans can more easily gain information about, and purchase tickets for the 2011 Classic. Fans can also log onto Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/BobHopeClassic) and Twitter (@bobhopeclassic) to keep up on pre-tournament and tournament week news, see exclusive celebrity photos, and enter various contests for the chance to win Bob Hope Classic tickets and other tournament prizes.
In 51 years, the Classic has donated nearly $49 million to charities throughout the Coachella Valley. For tickets and more information, go to www.bobhopeclassic.com or call 1.888.MRBHOPE (672.4673).
Contact:
Toby Zwikel
(818) 462-5599
Pat Bennett
(760) 346-8184
