4
TEE TIMES
May 2019
NGO Tournament Director, Charlie Clarkson, Volunteer of Tournament, Jolie Venable, First Tee of Tennessee, and First
Executive Director Patrick Nichols & Family together with Super Pro Snedeker. (L-R) Brian, Anne, Brandt Snedeker, Patrick and Logan Nichol
Tee Tennessee Executive Director, Joshua McDade
family event. There definitely were more kids and more people walking the golf course. Maybe more people walked the course because it wasn’t blistering hot.” This year, the NGO did not have a title sponsor but had four Proud Partners. Clarkson would like to add one more Proud Partner and would love to have a title sponsor come aboard. He lauded the Proud Partners for stepping up to help ensure the event is successful. Clarkson said he expects charitable donations to exceed more than $135,000. He said sales were up 34 percent
www.teetimespaper.com
NGO Tournament Director Charlie Clarkson loves the great comments and looks forward to 2020 over 2018 and the tournament added 26 new corporate sponsors. “People are aware of us now for sure,” he said. “I think we are making our mark as a social event in the Nashville market, in the middle Tennessee market that happens to be wrapped around a golf tournament. “We still have some issues we are working through operation-
ally because we keep growing.” The relationship between the Nashville Golf and Athletic Club remains strong. “They have done absolutely everything that the Tour and we have asked them to do for 2019,” Clarkson said. “If they continue to improve along with us, I don’t see us going any-
Nashville Golf & Athletic Club , Whittemore Family and staff join 2019 NGO Champion Robby Shelton and Brandt Snedeker.
MC Shawn Parr announcing the prize guitar presented by Jeff Rothenberger, CFO Tour Visions where else at this point.” The first week of May date seems as if it will remain in place. Clarkson said it is important to keep the date opposite the PGA Tour’s event at Quail Hollow in Charlotte, an event in which tournament host Brandt Snedeker rarely plays. “It works out very well for Brandt and it’s important for us to have Brandt out here,” Clarkson said. “He was out for two full days and I can tell you story after story about what his presence means to the fans, to the volunteers and probably even to the players. He’s a big figure in the state of Tennessee and for him to come out and be a part of that, I think he realizes how important it is. We absolutely realize how important it is.”