A Helping Hand : Tidewater Charity Golf Tournament

A five-day event that will feature a fierce battle on the golf course and raise money for Horry County, South Carolina, charities is set for this September.

The third annual Tidewater Charity Golf Tournament, part of the Sunbelt Senior Tour, will draw some of the area’s top senior pros September 4 through September 6, but it will also provide needed financial support for the Autism Advocate Foundation and North Strand Helping Hand.

Activities get underway Sept. 2 at the Tidewater Golf Club in North Myrtle Beach with a free golf clinic, a trick-shot demonstration, a long-drive exhibition and the ever-popular skills contest, all open to the public, making for a fun-filled day of golf that benefits the entire community.

The competition will be fierce once the tourney starts Sept.4. Last year,10 Sunbelt Senior Tour players obtained their 2007 Champions Tour Cards and the top two competitors in the 2006 Tidewater Charity Golf Tournament qualified for the 2007 U.S. Senior Open at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisconsin. Three players were highlighted on the Golf Channel. The winner’s purse is estimated to be $10,000, with a total purse of $40,000.

An exciting pro/am tournament always draws big crowds, and this year will be no exception. A total of 102 amateurs will be matched with 34 professionals competing for prizes. An awards luncheon, catered by Outback Steakhouse, will follow the tournament.

The Tidewater Golf Club offers an intricate yet beautiful challenge for most players. The par-72, 7,078-yard course features a pair of signature holes, the par 3 third and the part 5 13th.

“The reason for the tournament is to raise money for the two charities,” explains Tournament Director Bill Pearson. “These charities work hard to help so many people that there is little time left over for fundraising, and that is where we can help.”

The five-day event, which continues to grow in size and stature each year, is expected to raise $30,000.