Area Golf News
Tournament and Event News
Know Your Score Campaign Against Prostate Cancer Raises $105,000 in Inaugural Year
February 2, 2009, Myrtle Beach, S.C. – Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday and Zero – the Fight to End Prostate Cancer announced today that $105,000 was raised during the inaugural 2008 “Know Your Score: Fight Prostate Cancer” campaign with all proceeds benefitting Zero – the Project to End Prostate Cancer. Five events were held during the calendar year to help raise money for prostate cancer research and to encourage men to undergo early and frequent screening.
“The Know Your Score: Fight Prostate Cancer campaign began when members of the Myrtle Beach golf community brought to our attention the need for prostate cancer research funding and to help make men aware of the importance of undergoing early and frequent screening,” said Bill Golden, president of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday. “Since many of the one million golfers who visit Myrtle Beach annually fall in Zero’s target audience, we felt that it was a natural partnership. The entire Grand Strand golf community has united to make a long-term commitment to the Zero-the Fight to End Prostate Cancer and we are already planning for a bigger and better 2009.”
In April of 2008, Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday joined forces with Zero and launched the campaign by announcing that former Cincinnati Red outfielder Ken Griffey, Sr. would serve as the honorary chairman of the “Know Your Score” campaign. A prostate cancer survivor, Griffey’s year-long role as included spreading awareness about the importance of prostate cancer research and testing through national and regional interviews, and by participating in “Know Your Score” events during the year.
To celebrate the “Know Your Score” campaign, Zero brought their 40-foot “Drive Against Prostate Cancer Mobile Screening RV” to Myrtle Beach in April and again in August and provided free prostate tests to the more than 750 men took advantage of the opportunity.
Each Saturday in April, 30 Myrtle Beach area golf courses hosted closest-to-the-pin contests with $38,000 raised in donations over the four-week period. The contests were repeated in on four consecutive Saturdays in October and November on 27 Myrtle Beach courses with $7,000 in donations raised.
On August 23, Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday hosted the inaugural Know Your Score: Fight Prostate Cancer Celebrity Golf Tournament at The Long Bay Club in North Myrtle Beach, S.C. with a nationally-known celebrity joining each of the 25 foursomes. Ken Griffey, Sr. served as the tournament host and was joined by entertainment personalities and former professional athletes including Henry Cho, a nationally-known comedian who has appeared on the Comedy Channel and “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” and XM Radio’s “Laugh USA”; Bobby Cremins, current College of Charleston head basketball coach who also led the Georgia Tech program for 19 years; 17-year Major League Baseball veteran and former Cincinnati Red “Big Red Machine” outfielder George Foster; TNT’s Emmy-Award-wining golf reporter Jim Huber; Sam Jones, one of the key members of the 1950s and 1960s Boston Celtics that won 10 NBA Championships during his 12 years; Hal King, a member of the Cincinnati Reds’ 1973 Western Division-winning squad; ESPN billiards commentator and prostate cancer survivor Mitch Laurance; Ewa Mataya Laurance, World Trick Shot champion and World 9-Ball champion and Tony Womack, a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2001 World Championship team.
After golf, tournament participants and guests attended a dinner gala and silent auction where they were able to bid on sports and entertainment memorabilia after dinner. In total, the tournament, gala and silent auction raised $50,000.
“There is a charity tournament on every corner of every town on every week of the year; Cystic Fibrosis, child’s care and cancer research,” said Jim Huber. “And yet playing in the Know Your Score tournament digs in personally to every man involved. It is a part of our makeup, resides in our fear corner, demands our attention. I’ve made it a point to know my score for thirty years now, far earlier than necessary, but it has been a bi-annual bout with reality. One every man must have. The more who know this, the fewer who will die.”
During the PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship, held in Myrtle Beach, August 25–28, $5,000 was raised from participating golfers from all 50 states and 32 countries. Each night at the World Am’s 19th Hole at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center, golfers participated in closest-to-the pin contests and purchased tickets to play billiards against Ewa Laurance. Golfers who defeated Laurance received PGA TOUR Superstore gift cards and were registered to win a five-night, four-day Dominican Republic vacation.
“Prostate cancer is diagnosed every 2 1/2 minutes in America and we thank Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday and our local partners for taking a leadership role in bringing this important issue to the golf community,” said Jamie Bearse, Chief Operating Officer of the Zero – the Project to End Prostate Cancer. “The tireless work by board members and the staff at MBGH as well as countless volunteers have helped us move closer to the day where we will see zero prostate cancer cases and deaths. We look forward to building on our program in 2009 and invite anyone who has a stake in this cause to join us today.”
About Zero-the Project to End Prostate Cancer
Zero prostate cancer deaths. Zero prostate cancer cases and for those with prostate cancer it means a zero PSA. The name conveys what Zero stands for – zero tolerance for prostate cancer.
Zero is committed not only to reducing prostate cancer or alleviating the pain from the disease but to end it. Zero set a goal that all men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer will be cured or manage their illness with good quality of life, with the support they need to minimize physical and emotional suffering and to cope effectively throughout their cancer journeys. To accomplish this goal, Zero provides comprehensive treatment information to patients, education to those at risk and conduct more free screenings than ever before. Zero increases research funds from the federal government to find new treatments and assist in the funding for research in the pursuit of a better test for the disease. For more information about Zero, visit FightProstateCancer.org.
About Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday
Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday is a non-profit trade association of 76 championship golf courses, 107 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 “Stay and Play 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 Hootie & the Blowfish Monday After The Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament each spring, 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 FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing. For more information, call Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday at 1-800-833-8798 or visit GolfHoliday.com.
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