By Fred Woods

Editor

The Kiwanis Club of Opelika and Auburn University Letterman Club-sponsored Celebrity Golf Classic will be held today at Opelika’s Saugahatchee Country Club. “Hole-in-One” holes – with cars, expensive watches and jewelry – have always been a part of the tournament but this year’s (the 23rd annual) Classic sets a new high for gifts to lucky golfers.

Prudential Preferred Real Estate will award a brand new $400,000 home to a qualifying tournament participant lucky enough to make a hole in one. Here’s how it will work: the prize for one of the “hole-in-one” holes, number 4, will be the right to participate, for the five golfers closest to the hole. Then, immediately after the tournament is over, the five lucky golfers will engage in a “shoot-off” at number 18. This hole is 165 yards long.

“We are beyond ecstatic to be able to provide some additional excitement to this annual event,” said Stacy Williams Jordan, owner of Prudential Preferred Real Estate. “We are counting on someone to make this hole-in-one so we can welcome them as a new homeowner.”

The new home is located in one of Auburn’s newest custom neighborhoods, Heritage Ridge at Asheton Lakes. It is a custom-built home from Michael Allen Monk, award-winning homebuilder. The home is full of exceptional features to enhance the “front porch revival” style of Heritage Ridge. The neighborhood features 38 wooded lots with cul-de-sacs, with several lots on the lake.

In its 23rd year, the Celebrity Golf Classic pairs 4-person sponsored teams with an Auburn Letterman Club member for a fun-filled day of fun and reminiscing. Former Auburn athletes scheduled to play include Jackie Burkett, Randy Campbell, Bret Eddins, Tucker Frederickson, Terry Henley, Mike Kolen, Ben Leard, Buddy McClinton, Bill Newton, Lloyd Nix, Johnny Simmons, Kendall Simmons, Chris Todd, Randy Walls and Stan White. The tournament takes place Friday, Oct. 3, at Saugahatchee Country Club on Bent Creek road in Opelika.

Prizes on the remaining “hole-in-one” holes include two cars, courtesy of Kia Motor Company and Glynn Smith Chevrolet and a Rolex watch donated by Ware Jewelers and Hyundai of Auburn. A large number of other gifts, heavily Auburn-themed, will also be given away to tournament participants.

Proceeds from the event will support children’s charities. They are divided three ways: one-third goes to Opelika Kiwanis Club to support various local children’s charities such as Jean Dean RIF, Camp ASCCA, the Boys and Girls Club and Children’s Hospital. One-third goes to the Letterman’s Club where it goes directly to the Pat Dye Scholarship Fund to support children of former AU athletes who want to attend Auburn but lack the financial means. There is an application process and the scholarship is based on merit and need. The final one-third goes to a charitable organization that the two sponsors agree is meaningful to young people. This third currently goes to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes which is in its third year of funding.

Rusty Sheehan, Opelika Kiwanian, and a co-chair of the tournament points out that “civic club life is about working and giving back to the community.” The Opelika Kiwanis Club gave back to the community last year more than $32,000, most of which was to various children’s and youth charities and public programs.