Lutz, FL – Heritage Golf Group, a leading owner and operator of premier golf properties across the country, announced today that TPC Tampa Bay raised over $50,000 on Monday, May 22, 2017 to help support U.S. troops and their families. Proceeds will benefit PGA TOUR Charities, Inc.’s Birdies for the Brave® program, a national military outreach initiative dedicated to raising funds and awareness for military homefront charities that provide critical services to meet the specialized needs of military members, wounded veterans, and their families.
In addition to supporting Birdies for the Brave national charities, the TPC Tampa Bay wanted to bring more focus on the local Tampa community and chose to support The Athena House as well. The Athena House, a local Tampa charity, is the first housing program for homeless female veterans in the nation. TPC Tampa Bay is committed to the local and national needs of our service men and women.
This year’s event marked the 12th anniversary of TPC Tampa Bay’s Golf Tournament benefitting Birdies for the Brave with a full field of over 100 golfers. TPC Tampa Bay hosted a 4-person scramble tournament including celebrities and PGA Champions Tour Professionals. The official sendoff of the players included a Parachute Jump-in, Shriners Pipe & Drum, the National Anthem sung by a veteran, and a shotgun start at 11:15am. Following tournament play, TPC Tampa Bay hosted a reception which included giving a Car to a Veteran and their Family as well as a silent auction and raffle.
“Birdies for the Brave was founded in 2006 and has raised in excess of $17 million. I know that we are but a small bit of that, but just like the military and all those that have served and their families can testify, everybody and bit counts,” said Craig Cliver, General Manager of TPC Tampa Bay. “When you put a bunch of individuals together they become the United States Armed Forces and it is an honor to be able to support those that serve and have served and their families in this event at TPC Tampa Bay. I am thrilled to be able to say ‘thank you’ by showing off this fantastic property and the amazing people that make up this great game of golf by raising funds for such great causes!” TPC Tampa Bay is still accepting direct donations to the charities.
Proceeds from the events benefit non-profit vetted military charities supported by PGA TOUR players, including:
• Special Operations Warrior Foundation (www.specialops.org)
• Homes for Our Troops (www.hfotusa.org)
• Navy SEAL Foundation (www.navysealfoundation.org)
• Operation Homefront (www.operationhomefront.net)
• Military Warriors Support Foundation (www.militarywarriors.org)
• Green Beret Foundation (www.greenberetfoundation.org)
• United Through Reading (www.unitedthroughreading.org)
• K9s For Warriors (www.k9sforwarriors.org)
• Feherty’s Troops First Foundation (www.troopsfirstfoundation.org)
• Operation Shower (www.operationshower.org)
• Disabled Sports USA (www.disabledsportsusa.org).
For more information, please call Margie Martin at (813) 949-0090 or visit tpctampabay.com/birdies. To learn more about Birdies for the Brave, please visit www.birdiesforthebrave.org.
ABOUT BIRDIES FOR THE BRAVE
Named by the White House among the top 20 charities in the U.S. that support military families, Birdies for the Brave is a national military outreach initiative proudly supported by the PGA TOUR, which is dedicated to honoring and showing appreciation to the courageous members of our U.S. Armed Forces and their families. Birdies for the Brave was created in 2006 by PGA TOUR player Phil Mickelson, whose father was a Navy fighter pilot, and his wife, Amy, to support combat-wounded veterans. The PGA TOUR subsequently adopted Birdies for the Brave and expanded it to include a wide spectrum of military outreach initiatives during PGA TOUR tournaments, as well as a series of fundraising events at TPCs and partner clubs across the U.S. – an effort that has raised more than $17 million for military homefront charities that provide critical programs and services to meet the specialized needs of wounded heroes and military families. For more information, visit www.birdiesforthebrave.org.
ABOUT TPC TAMPA BAY
TPC Tampa Bay (www.tpctampabay.com) features an 18-hole championship golf course that was masterfully designed by Bobby Weed with Chi Chi Rodriguez (as player consultant) in 1991. The par 71 course is routed around natural wetlands, cypress heads, and numerous ponds and lagoons. The course was designed not only to challenge the top golfers of the world, but also to provide a challenging and fun experience for players of all abilities. TPC Tampa Bay has won numerous awards including winning the “Top 100 Public Golf Shops in the U.S.” (for the past six consecutive years) and continues to garner praise and rave reviews for its course and golf shop. TPC Tampa Bay is a member of both the Tournament Players Club Network and the Heritage Golf Group Collection of properties.
ABOUT HERITAGE GOLF GROUP
Heritage Golf Group (www.heritagegolfgroup.com), established in 1999, is an innovative, industry leading hospitality company and owner/operator of premier private, resort and daily fee golf properties spanning Florida, South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, and Texas. Guided by the principle of evolving the private club and golf business experience to the highest level, each individual club’s amenities and operational systems are tailored to augment their one-of-a-kind assets. With a commitment to delivering memorable experiences to its members and guests, the company is constantly expanding their team of experts in operations, golf, culinary, lodging, fitness, agronomy and special events. Backed by the financial strength of Tower Three Partners, an operationally oriented private equity firm, Heritage Golf Group is uniquely poised to expand through the acquisition of a tightly focused and selective group of first-class clubs
For more information about Heritage Golf Group or any of the Clubs in The Heritage Collection, please visit www.heritagegolfgroup.com, email info@heritagegolfgroup.com or call (980) 430-8800.
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