Golfing in the Good Ol' Summertime!

It was a hot and muggy day, but it still beat a day at the office! That was the general feeling about the 2010 edition of the United Way Frank McDonald Memorial Golf Classic, held this year on August 10 at the Honors. Nearly 40 teams sweated their way through one of the toughest courses in the country and lived to tell about it! The tournament, normally held the last Monday of April, was bumped to August due to the NCAA finals earlier in the summer.

It was a tremendous year, despite the heat! All totalled, the tournament raised more than $88,000 this year, an increase of nearly $15,000 over the year previous. Proceeds from the tournament are contributed to United Way of Greater Chattanooga to help fund community programs that advance the common good and build a stronger, healthier community.

First year tournament chairman Mike Jenkins from Unum was appreciative of the support United Way received from tournament sponsors.

"This tournament would not happen without the tremendous support we receive from our primary sponsors, The Chattanooga Times Free Press, Coca Cola and BI-LO," Mike said. "We also thank Kelley Automotive Group for donating our hole-in-one prizes. We are also pleased to welcome Chattem as an official sponsor. They have supported the tournament over the years and this was a tremendous next step in their level of support."

Mike also thanked the tournament committee members -- Gary Davis and Ryan May of Coca Cola, Tanya Williamson from the Chattanooga Times Free Press, Tom White from Unum, Curtis Johnson, Mickey McCamish, Bill Webb.

"The support of the staff of the Honors Course was the key in making this event a success," continued Mike. "Henrik Simonsen, Ashton Harris and their staffs were outstanding. We cannot thank them and The Honors enough for their generosity in hosting this event each year."

Click here to see pictures from the 2010 tournament. The Classic will be back in 2011! Stay tuned for details!

And the Winners Were...

AM Round Winners

Times Free Press Flight:
1st Place: Rehrig Pacific #1
2nd Place: Chattanooga Coca Cola #1

BI-LO Flight:
1st Place: IBEW Local 172
2ns Place: AT&T

Coca Cola Flight:
1st Place: Unum
2nd Place: Chattanooga Coca Cola #2

Low Gross Winner: Healthcare Strategies

Long Drive: Joey Smith
Straight Drive: Ryan Haynes


PM Round Winners

Times Free Press Flight:
1st Place: BlueCross BlueShield Government Programs
2nd Place: Ball Corporation

Chattem Flight:
1st Place: Chattanooga Times Free Press #3
2nd Place: Budweiser of Chattanooga

Coca Cola Flight:
1st Place: 3-H Group Hotels
2nd Place: Chattem

Low Gross Winner: Pointer Management

Learn more about Frank and his music

If you'd like to learn a little more about the fun 'n music side of Frank McDonald, you'll enjoy this 15-minute documentary on the Dismembered Tennesseans, produced by our friends at WTCI TV 45 and narrated by Dalton Roberts. As Frank would say, it'd be an honor and an education! Just click the play button below to watch.

Emotional NCAA wrapup

Here's a great article in Golf Digest describing the immediate emotional aftermath of the NCAA tournament held at the Honors in June. We've never experienced anything quite like this after the Classic, but you never know!

Tournament Tops 40 Teams!

The Frank McDonald Memorial Golf Classic has reached the 40 team mark this year! Thanks to all who have returned to play the Honors one more time and to those who will be first-timers to the tournament. We have several of those, including Adman Electric, AUI, Ball Corporation, Card Monroe, Decosimo, Memorial Health Care System, Pointer Management, Roper Corporation, Wrigley Company, Health Care Strategies and 3H Hotel Group. Thanks to everyone for their support!

UWFMGC team total eclipses 2009

We're happy to report that 35 teams have signed up for the Classic this year, five more than the total number of teams participating last year! Thank you to all who have signed up and showed their support for United Way. See the list of participants so far here. We'd like to see 40 teams this year, so if you know of a likely prospect, it's not too late to register!

So who won the NCAA?

Everything's on go for the 2010 United Way Frank McDonald Memorial Golf Classic August 9. Don't know if you've kept up with the reason you'll be playing on August 9 and not the last Monday of April, as usual. If not, then check out the Augusta State Jaguars, winners of the 2009/10 NCAA National Golf Championship, which was held at the Honors in June. The Jags trounced runner-up Oklahoma State in a tightly fought battle that went to extra holes. Read a rundown of the matchup here. Maybe your round will be just as exciting as theirs!

Classic moves to August 9 to make room for the NCAA

This year, the United Way Frank McDonald Memorial Golf Classic moves from it's usual date (the last Monday in April) to Monday, August 9th. This is due to scheduling conflicts arising from the NCAA Division I Golf Championship which will be held at the Honors June 1-6. We fully expect to be back on track for April next year. In the meantime, check out the NCAAs and see how your game stacks up against the best in the collegiate ranks! If you would like to follow the progress of the NCAA regionals as teams embark on the road to Ooltewah, check out the official NCAA championship website.