The Golden Bear Golf Club in Orlando, Florida will host the inaugural Diamond Resorts Invitational Celebrity Golf Tournament on January 14-16, 2016. Benefiting Florida Hospital for Children, the Diamond Resorts Invitational will feature numerous celebrities. Jerry Rice, Reggie Jackson, Roger Clemens and Larry the Cable Guy are among the early sign-ups for the tournament boasting a $500,000 purse with a $100,000 first prize. Three days of live coverage on Golf Channel with a goal to raise $1 million for Florida Hospital for Children highlights the event.
At a recent press conference announcing the tournament, celebrity participants Mark Rypien, the former Super Bowl winning Washington Redskins quarterback; Johnny Damon, the former Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees World Series champion; and Brian Gay, a PGA TOUR player and Orlando resident, voiced their enthusiasm for the multi-year event.
"The commitment from Diamond Resorts International and Golf Channel are the foundation for years of success," said Rypien, a two-time winner of the American Century Championship at Lake Tahoe. "The celebrity field, the competition and the venue will become a major attraction for the Orlando area."
"I live here in Orlando and know how important the Florida Hospital for Children is for this community," said Damon. "The charity fundraising aspect is critical."
"The Florida Hospital for Children is thrilled and honored to be part of this event. We're looking forward to working once again with Diamond Resorts International to help the area's children," said Marla Silliman, Senior Executive Officer at the Florida Hospital for Children.
Tournament week begins Wednesday, Jan. 13 with the third-annual Brian Gay Invitational, presented by Diamond Resorts International®. Over the past two years, the Brian Gay Invitational has raised $1.2 million for Florida Hospital for Children. Brian Gay, PGA TOUR golfer and resident at nearby Windermere, will host an 18-hole celebrity-amateur competition featuring foursomes comprised of three amateurs and one celebrity. An evening gala and headliner concert at Mystic Dunes Resort and Golf Club, a Diamond Resorts flagship resort in Orlando, will complement the action.
Information on sponsorship opportunities that combine tournament celebrity-am playing spots with a chance to advance to the three-day tournament, client entertainment options, extravagant pairings and award parties, marketing exposure, gallery tickets and other special offers is available at: diamondresortsinvitational.com/sponsorship.
Current sponsor participants include Florida Hospital for Children, MasterCard, and Integrity Golf Company, LLC.
Florida Hospital for Children (floridahospital.com/children) is one of the premier children's hospitals in the nation, setting standards for innovation, quality and comprehensive care. The child-centric healing environment designed to keep kids comfortable is complemented by a staff of world-class doctors, specialists, nurses and healthcare professionals utilizing advanced technologies, therapies and treatments.
The Golden Bear Golf Club is a signature Jack Nicklaus golf course at Keene's Pointe in Windermere, Fla. The par 72, 6,827-yard layout is surrounded by sparkling lakes, majestic oaks and provides the challenging design elements of a Nicklaus design.
