Pebble Beach, CA – The Northern California PGA Foundation pays tribute today to two remarkable individuals in the game of golf, PGA TOUR Veteran Billy Casper and President of the Frys.com Open, Duke Butler, at the 6th Annual “The Langley – A Tribute to Legends.” The Langley is a golf tournament and social event designed to honor the game’s legends and those who have made immeasurable contributions to the sport, and at the same time, the event raises impactful funds for various community programs. This year’s event is being held for the second consecutive year at the Inn at Spanish Bay & Pebble Beach Golf Links in Pebble Beach, California. Tomorrow, teams of four amateurs and a PGA Professional will compete here in The Langley Pro-Am Golf Tournament. Athletes from one of this year’s beneficiaries, Special Olympics Northern California, will also participate in the event. Casper and Butler join an impressive list of past honorees including Jack Nicklaus, Johnny Miller, Arnold Palmer, Ken Venturi, Tom Watson, and the event’s namesake Jim Langley.
“This year’s Langley Event is bittersweet as we remember our dear friend Jim Langley, who passed away last month. We are proud to continue to honor his memory and the achievements of other inspiring golf legends like Billy Casper and Duke Butler,” explained Chris Thomas, NCPGA executive director and COO.
Honorees Billy Casper and Duke Butler
Billy Casper is known as one of the most accomplished golfers to ever play the game, recently named among the Top 20 players by Sports Illustrated magazine. Joining the PGA TOUR in 1956, he played in 556 PGA TOUR events during his career. His resume includes 380 Top 25 finishes and 51 wins. He went on to play in 293 Senior TOUR events and finished with 152 Top 25s and nine wins. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1978 and the PGA Hall of Fame in 1982.
According to Casper, “My focus has always been on the youth of America. I believe that these youngsters, the future of our great country, are our most precious commodities. The proceeds from my charitable work through Billy’s Kids help support many wonderful youth programs dedicated to broadening our children’s views, and teaching them invaluable life skills necessary to compete in an ever-changing world.”
Butler has been affiliated with the PGA TOUR for 39 years as a player, Tournament Director and leader in Senior Management. Butler is a member of the Texas Golf Hall of Fame since 1986 and was Professional of the Year in Texas in 1990. He was instrumental in starting the Reno-Tahoe Open in 1999, and has been involved with the Frys.com Open since before it began in 2006, becoming its President in 2007.
“I have dedicated my life to promoting the game and its charitable benefits for the enjoyment of others and I am proud that one of the beneficiaries of The Langley Event is the Junior Tour of Northern California because of the great work they do to facilitate the continuation of golf through our youth,” said Butler.
Supporting Worthwhile Causes
CIG Insurance Group is once again the title sponsor of The Langley event. The proceeds benefit community action organizations that foster and embrace life’s positive values in Northern California and Northwestern Nevada. As a result of The Langley, the NCPGA Foundation will make donations to Special Olympics Northern California, which offers a free year-round sports training and competition program for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, instilling the confidence they need to succeed in life. The NCPGA Foundation is proud to add as a beneficiary Billy’s Kids®, the Billy Casper Youth Foundation. The Junior Tour of Northern California is another benefactor where junior golfers can compete against the best players for an affordable price. Finally it is our honor to continue the legacy of Jim Langley through The Langley Scholarship Fund that enables outstanding high school seniors to pursue their life’s dreams through secondary education.
Anyone interested in contributing to the NCPGA Foundation can visit NCPGAfoundation.org to make a donation. The NCPGA Foundation is a 501(c) 3 organization. Federal Tax ID number is: 75-3249593. All donations are tax deductible as permitted by the law. For further information, call (707) 449-4742 or visit www.ncpgafoundation.org.
Contact:
Nancy Maul, Managing Director – nmaul@pgahq.com – (707) 449-4742
