Annual PGA TOUR Champions event Aug. 21-27 at The Club at Snoqualmie Ridge will be a ‘par-tee’ you won’t want to miss
Considering how many hundreds of thousands of Americans hit the links – even periodically – or are somehow employed in the industry, it should come as no surprise that ‘the gentle person’s game’ has its own day to celebrate all things golf.
One of the best local opportunities to do exactly that – while watching world-class golf and helping support autoimmune disease research – is to volunteer at the Boeing Classic (BoeingClassic.com). This PGA TOUR Champions event (PGATOUR.com/Champions) is one of just 27 taking place around the world in 2017 and the Puget Sound area’s premier professional golf tournament.
Event summary:
- Dates: Aug. 21-27, 2017
- Golf course: The Club at Snoqualmie Ridge (ClubAtSnoqualmieRidge.com)
- Field: 81 PGA TOUR Champions professionals
- Format: 54 holes of stroke play with no cut; Purse: $2.1 million
- Par: 72 (7,264 yards)
- Defending champion: Bernhard Langer
- Beneficiary: Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason (BenaroyaResearch.org)
As a charitable event that has raised about $6 million since its inception, the Boeing Classic relies on volunteer support. Besides rubbing elbows with the Legends of Golf, volunteers get to be very close to the action while taking in breathtaking views. They also get:
- Two Cutter & Buck™ golf shirts, one jacket and a cap or visor
- Preferred parking during shifts
- Meal voucher on shift days
- Two admission passes and an invitation to a volunteer appreciation party
To learn about the wide array of available volunteer positions and to register, visit BoeingClassic.com/Volunteers.
Celebrate National Golf Day April 26 by Registering to Volunteer at Boeing Classic National Golf Day
Now in its 10th year, National Golf Day is hosted by a coalition of the game’s leading organizations, called WE ARE GOLF. It celebrates the sport’s nearly $70 billion economy, $4 billion annual charitable impact and many environmental and fitness benefits.
National Charitable Impact of Golf
Golf is a key driver of charitable giving in the U.S. – $3.9 billion a year to be exact. Philanthropic contributions, including those from professional tournaments, are a huge part of the industry, with the majority of funds going to causes outside of the sport. Beneficiaries include health, youth, education, environmental and cultural groups nationally, regionally and locally.
Golf Industry Impact in Washington State
Interestingly, according to WE ARE GOLF, in Washington state alone the golf industry’s impact is significant. It includes:
- Direct, indirect and induced economic output: $2.5 billion
- Number of golf courses: 280
- Direct golf economy: $1.2 billion
- Total wage income: $796 million
- Total jobs: 38,431
About Boeing Classic
Boeing Classic is a PGA (Professional Golf Association) TOUR Champions event. Now in its thirteenth year, the charitable event has raised about $6 million over the last 12 years in support of Virginia Mason Foundation-funded health initiatives, like Benaroya Research Institute.
The Boeing Company (Boeing.com), Washington’s largest private employer, has been the title sponsor of this tournament since it began in 2005. Approximately half of Boeing’s global workforce is in Washington and the Boeing Classic is part of the company’s ongoing commitment to giving back to the communities where its employees live and work. For more information, visit BoeingClassic.com.
