National Father & Son Classic brings fathers and sons together every year
Among the most enduring qualities of the game of golf is the relationships it helps create and strengthen. Whether it’s four hours at the local golf club or four days on a golfing excursion, the game creates lasting bonds among friends, siblings and especially among parents and children.
The latter is perhaps the most rewarding, as just about every father who plays the game looks forward to introducing the sport to their sons or daughters and spending endless afternoons on the links and on the range while forging lasting relationships with their children.
It’s this special bond that is celebrated every year at the Martin’s PGA Superstore National Father & Son Team Classic, held in Myrtle Beach each July. This year, the three-day event, slated for July 16-18 celebrates its 12th anniversary as the largest father/son event in the country, welcoming nearly 1,600 golfers from 44 states and eight foreign countries.
In addition to camaraderie, the Father & Son affords avid golfers the opportunity to experience some of the best golf courses Myrtle Beach has to offer. In fact, the event will be played on more than a dozen of Myrtle Beach’s most acclaimed courses, including the newly renovated Pine Lakes Country Club, the Grand Strand’s first golf course, which just re-opened this spring following the extended facelift. Among the other courses played are the Resort Course at Grand Dunes, Tidewater, Myrtlewood and a collection of award-winning layouts at the Barefoot Resort and Golf.
“This is such a wonderful concept,” said Donald R. Hollenack, a second-year participant in the event. “It is so much more than about golf. It allows my dad and me to spend five days of quality time together, which is so very rare since we live about two hours apart and we seldom just get to kick back anymore.
“We stay at the beach and enjoy the ocean, we enjoy the dining, we enjoy the playing competitors we have met over the past two years, and absolutely love the golf and the competitive nature of the tournament,” he added.
With a significant number of flights based on team handicap, the competitive nature of the tournament can be enjoyed by just about every participant, regardless of skill level. Each day, teams are assigned to a different golf course where they compete in a different two-man format each day. Thursday teams will play better ball. Friday features alternate shot and Saturday the action concludes with the pairs playing captain’s choice. Each format encourages team strategy and interaction, giving father and son the opportunity to combine skill and strategy to perform well.
In addition to the tournament rounds, players have the option of playing a practice round on Wednesday on any of the tournament courses for a discounted rate. Further sweetening the pot, each player receives a welcome bag that includes tournament memorabilia, clothing and a $200 gift card to the Martin’s PGA Superstores in Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach. The 12th edition of the classic will kick o with a special welcome reception at the Pine Lakes clubhouse on Wednesday evening, allowing players their first look at the newly restored clubhouse, which was erected in 1927. Additionally, Pine Lakes is home to the Myrtle Beach Golf Hall of Fame. Following each round of competition, players can participate in the Father & Son Skills Challenge & Demo Alley at the Resort Course at Grande Dunes. There also will be a nightly Closest to the Pin & Putting Contest at Martin’s PGA Tour Superstore. Saturday, the Father & Son Classic will conclude with an awards ceremony and player’s cookout at the Resort Course at Grande Dunes.
Despite its name, the tournament isn’t limited to just the father/son connection, but also pays homage to other important family relationships. Other accepted pairs include grandfathers and grandsons, stepfathers and stepsons, fathers and sons in law, and uncles and nephews. To request a tournament brochure or for more information on the event, call 1-866-497-2627 or visit fathersongolf.com.
This year’s event will benefit the ALS Therapy Development Institute. ALS TDI Golf is the largest nationwide network of golf-based fundraisers to support research into effective treatments for ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease).
