MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. -- Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday will host the seventh annual FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing, May 18-21, 2008. The FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing is the world’s largest firefighter golf benefit and has raised more than $60,000 for the families of fallen firefighters. More than 600 firefighters from 27 states and Canada are expected to participate on 30 Grand Strand area courses during the week.
The 2008 tournament will be dedicated to the late Captain Louis Mulkey and the Charleston, S.C. firefighters who lost their lives in a furniture store fire in West Ashley, S.C., last June. Mulkey had assisted with the Golf Outing each year by bringing members of his Charleston Fire Department to cook for all of the firefighters and their families at the picnic and awards ceremony. The FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing will honor Mulkey and the fallen Charleston firefighters in a special presentation at the April 21 picnic and awards ceremony.
Created by former New York City firefighter, Kevin O’Brien, the FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing raises money for The Thomas Elsasser Fund and a holding account for non-line of duty national fund. The Thomas Elsasser Fund is a charity backed by the United Firefighters Association (UFA) and designed to benefit families of fallen firefighters. The tournament provides opportunity for firefighters, many of whom assisted in the recovery efforts at Ground Zero, to gather in the “Golf Capital of the World.” The tournament is an offspring of O’Brien’s original event, the Alfred E. Ronaldson Spring Golf Classic, which was designed to benefit the family of Ronaldson following his death. During the 10-year span, the Ronaldson event hosted more than 10,000 golfers on 18 golf courses in New York and Florida.
“This event symbolizes what is special about being a firefighter,” said O’Brien, director of the FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing. “The FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing was formed after September 11, 2001, because we wanted to do something special for the countless firefighters who came to New York City to stand by our side during our time of need. These Firefighters raised countless funds for our families and supported the FDNY by attending our funerals and memorials. In 2008, we will honor the memory of the Charleston 9 by putting Captain Mulkey’s name on our golf shirts and selling commemorative tee shirts with all proceeds to benefit the families of the Charleston victims.
“Myrtle Beach is the ideal place to host a tournament of this magnitude because no other golf destination in the United States can handle our large number of firefighters. The FDNY Tournament is already the world’s largest firefighter golf benefit and we look forward to growing this tournament and raising more money for the families of fallen firefighters.”
The FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing features four days of activities for firefighters and their families, starting on Sunday and Monday, May 18-19, as firefighters will have the opportunity to hone their golf skills on Myrtle Beach area golf courses. On Tuesday, May 20, firefighters will enjoy a practice round before the four-person best ball FDNY 9-11 Tournament tees off Wednesday, May 21 with an 8:00 a.m. shotgun start. The week-long event keeps the firefighters busy after golf with the Monday night Pairings Party, Tuesday’s annual Jimmy Young Memorial Belly Flop Contest and the FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing Picnic Wednesday after the tournament.
Participating Myrtle Beach-area golf courses include Aberdeen Country Club, Arrowhead Country Club, Blackmoor Golf Club, Burning Ridge East Golf Club, Crow Creek Golf Club, Crown Park Golf Club, Farmstead Golf Links, Grand Dunes Resort, Heron Point Golf Club, Indian Wells Golf Club, King's North at Myrtle Beach National, Litchfield Country Club, Long Bay Golf Club, Meadowlands Golf Club, Myrtlewood Golf Club, Pawleys Plantation Golf & Country Club, Prestwick Country Club, River Club, Rivers Edge Golf Club, River Hills Golf Club, Shaftesburgy Glen, South Creek at Myrtle Beach National, Tidewater Golf Club & Plantation, Tradition Golf Club, Waterway Hills Golf Club, West Course at Myrtle Beach National, Wild Wing Golf Club, Willbrook Plantation Golf Club, Woodland Valley and World Tour Golf Links.
“The FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing is one of our biggest events of the year with firefighters coming from across the country to participate,” said Bill Golden, president of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday. “When you meet these firefighters at the FDNY 9-11 event, only then can you comprehend the passion and camaraderie that the firefighters share in their brotherhood. The firefighters are an inspirational group of people to be around, and we are proud to be a part of what is one of the biggest events on the Myrtle Beach calendar.”
Registration is open until May 10 and the $390 entry fee includes four nights of accommodations, three rounds of golf, the Wednesday afternoon picnic and a FDNY golf shirt. Firefighters are invited to register by calling 1-877-411-FDNY or visit FDNYGolf.com for more information
About Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday
Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday is a non-profit trade association of 77 championship golf courses, 104 golf package providers and five golf schools in the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina area. Founded in 1967, the organization has been and continues to be the driving force behind the growth of the Myrtle Beach area golf market. The originator of the “Golf Package,” Golf Holiday provides non-biased information about the area accommodations and golf courses to assist golfers in making the most informed decisions when planning for their next vacation. Golf Holiday also hosts seven events and tournaments annually to help grow the game of golf and attract golfers to the Grand Strand during slower times of year. In addition to hosting the FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing, Golf Holiday also manages the PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship – the world's largest on-site golf tournament, the Summer Family Golf Tournaments, the Spring and Fall Palmetto High School Golf Championships, the Veterans Golf Classic and the Hootie and the Blowfish Monday After The Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament each spring. For more information, call Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday at 1-800-833-8798 or visit GolfHoliday.com.
For More Information, Contact:
Cheryl Harden or Erin Barrett, Brandon Advertising and Public Relations, (843) 916-2000
charden@brandonadvertising.com, ebarrett@brandonadvertising.com
or visit www.Brandonpr.com.
