After one of its most successful outings in 2010, the Laurie Bell Memorial 27th Annual Jet Open Charity Golf Tournament will look to continue its success in 2011, and will feature many of the same opportunities to get involved as the 2010 tournament offered. The entire event, which benefits the Newman University athletic department, will be held over the course of two days in an effort to make the event more user-friendly.
It all begins Sunday, August 7, with a pre-golf event kick-off party in the Dugan-Gorges Conference Center on the Newman campus. Jet Open participants and a guest are invited to enjoy a night of cocktails and appetizers starting at 6 p.m. The annual silent and live auctions will also take place during the pre-party, rather than at the conclusion of a long, hot golf day. Participants won't want to miss their chance to bid on one of the best auction lists ever assembled by the Jet Open. And yes, we will once again be auctioning off a trip to Beverly Hills to stay at the world-renowned Montage hotel.
The golf tournament itself will take place the following day, Monday, August 8, at Rolling Hills Country Club. Registration and lunch for the four-person scramble is slated to begin at 11:30 a.m. with a shotgun start following at 12:30 p.m. No change has been made in the entry fee of $250 per person for this year's event. That fee includes admission to Sunday's kick-off party, Monday's pre-tournament lunch, driving range balls, golf cart, and refreshments and snacks on the course. Participants will have a chance to win prizes on all par 3 holes, and a longest drive and longest putt contest will also be featured. Additionally, last year's favorites add-ons (money ball and TV drawing) will make a return appearance this year as well.
Golf participants will have a chance to sharpen their putting skills in a first-ever putting contest, which will be held in the hour between registration and the tournament's shotgun start. The event has been sponsored by Reddi Industries, and the winner will receive four Wichita State basketball tickets.
A number of new sponsorship opportunities have been created for the 2011 Jet Open. In addition to the traditional Gold ($5,000), Diamond ($2,500), Silver Hole ($1,500), Red Hole ($600), and Blue Hole ($500) opportunities, four additional sponsorship opportunities will be available. Perhaps the most coveted of the new sponsorship opportunities will be the Herm Bachrodt Coaches Award sponsorship. This $5,000 opportunity includes four golfers, and will sponsor a new award that will be presented to a Newman University coach each season in memory of the late Herm Bachrodt, who started the athletic department at Newman University and served as a basketball coach and the school's first athletic director. Other new sponsorship opportunites include a $5,000 Newman coaches sponsorship, a $3,000 golf towel sponsorship, a $3,000 cash bar/beverage cart sponsorship, and a $1,000 media sponsorship. A team of four golfers and sponsorship recognition is included in the cost of all sponsorship opportunities.
For more information on the Laurie Bell Memorial 27th Annual Jet Open, visit us online at www.newmanjets.com, or call (316) 942-4291, ext. 2118. We hope you will join us for what is sure to be an exciting event!