More Than $1.5 Million – Including Approximately $250,000 in 2024 – Goes to St. Louis Law Enforcement Families in Need
Jacksonville, FL – The BackStoppers Memorial Golf Tournament in St. Louis, Missouri, continued to display its growing charitable impact on the community with its eighth playing on October 4, 2024, at the historic Log Cabin Club. Perfect Golf Event, the leading platform for golf event management, has seen continual growth in one of the Midwest’s top fundraisers with more than $1.5 million raised since the first event in 2016, including approximately $250,000 in 2024.
The BackStoppers provides ongoing needed financial assistance and support to the spouses and dependent children of all police officers, firefighters and volunteer firefighters, and publicly funded paramedics and EMTs who have lost their lives or suffered a catastrophic injury in the line of duty. The event and organization have received participation from many St. Louis organizations and business leaders, including St. Louis-based Hall of Fame sports broadcasters Jack and Joe Buck.
“The golf tournament makes a big impact on our organization every year,” said Chief Ron Battelle, the Executive Director of BackStoppers Inc. “It’s great for awareness of our organization and getting volunteers and people involved. The unique formats for golf and features off the course are also enticing for our participants. It’s an event that helps sustain us from year to year.”
The organization provides $10,000 immediately to the surviving family of a law enforcement person who was killed in the line of duty and continues that funding throughout the children’s completion of college with no expenses incurred. BackStoppers has supported more than 200 families over the years in the St. Louis community and surrounding area, including 98 families and 77 children currently. The organization celebrated its 65th anniversary this year and pays approximately $2.5 million in benefits annually.
The 2024 event included several unique features:
- Pre-event appearance by the police Pipe and Drums and a crowd buzz by a police helicopter.
- Hole in One contest for trip to the 2025 Ryder Cup in New York and Golf Safari in South Africa.
- Special Drone Drop on No. 17. Each team directed a drone to drop their shot on the par-3 hole with special prizes for a hole in one.
- Trackman Long Drive contest on No. 14 with all golfers having their swing filmed with key statistics provided for each golfer along with a video and comparison to notable professionals.
- Ten golfers closest to the pin during the event participated in a post-golf shootout for $1 million.
- Following golf, an award reception on the Log Cabin patio included a Drone Golf Ball Drop for $2,000 cash prize.
The event has been sold out for all eight years and the site is live for 2025 registration – backstoppersmemorial.com.
“At this event and many of the events we plan, we try and be different from the straight-forward four-person scramble that make up a lot of charity events,” said Paul Courter, the Chief Operating Officer of Perfect Golf Event. “At the BackStoppers we put together five-person teams – a foursome with a first responder where there is no charge for the first responders to participate.
“We always try to add fun things for the events each year. This year, the drone contest on No. 17 was really a lot of fun and unique in that it was one of the first times such a contest had been implemented. We are always looking for fresh and unique formats to drive the charitable component.
“Seventy-five percent of the people who come to an event like this have no idea about the organization that puts it together. Events like the BackStoppers educate to build a very supportive database and community. There’s a strong message that positively affects the bottom line.”
About Perfect Golf Event
Perfect Golf Event (PGE) is organized to help golf courses and golf event organizers have a more successful golf event and raise more money through technology, innovative formats and exciting fundraising contests. PGE assists groups looking to organize, manage, and market a fundraising golf event, beginning with a free service and scaling up. Organizations benefit in three main areas: attracting more players, selling more sponsorships and ultimately raising more money. For golf courses, the benefits expand to generating more event revenue through the PGE partnership program. For more information, visit perfectgolfevent.com.
Contact
Paul Courter
Chief Operating Officer Perfect Golf Event paul@perfectgolfevent.com (877) 799-6031, ext. 102
Website: perfectgolfevent.com
