What happens when more than 12,000 golfers unite for a cause?
You get the World's Largest Golf Outing, of course.
The five-year-old event, which has raised more than $3 million to support military veterans and their families, is scheduled for August 1 -- the day after the final round of this week's PGA Championship.
The WLGO will be played almost simultaneously at more than 150 courses around the U.S., from Cypress Creek Country Club in Boynton Beach, Florida, to the Puakea Golf Club in Hawaii almost 5,000 miles away.
In an industry known for the multitude of charity tournaments held every week, this is the single largest charitable golf event held on a single day.
A variety of prizes are available across the country in the WLGO, which raises much-needed funding... [+]
The World's Largest Golf Outing is logistically possible because of an unique partnership between several course management and development groups that are usually in competition with one another. Billy Casper Golf, Troon, Club Corp and Toll Golf are all serving as host site sponsors and between them have a portfolio of more than 600 golf courses, country clubs and resorts. The National Golf Course Owners Association and GolfNow have also joined the movement to help grow participation.
A year ago, more than $1 million was raised as 12,397 golfers (including 567 injured American service members) played at 132 courses in 28 states. In 2014, there were 12,100 participants (including 364 wounded warriors) and almost $900,000 was raised.
The proceeds and donations benefit Fisher House Foundation, an international organization that provides free, temporary lodging for families whose loved ones are receiving medical care at major military and VA medical centers.
Just one team playing in the outing can provide a veteran's family a week-long stay at one of the comfort homes in Fisher House's nationwide network. As someone who's seen the effect of that support during the rehabilitation process first-hand, the importance of this kind of assistance can't be overstated.
An official USGA handicap isn't required to play in the outing, which is open to golfers of all abilities, and participating teams compete in a scramble format.
Besides a day of competition and camaraderie on the course, all registered golfers are entered into a drawing for a trip for four to the Nike campus in Beaverton, Oregon. Once there, the grand prize winners are set up with a custom club-fitting and get other goodies, like shoes and apparel.
The team that raises the most donation money will win a trip for four to Wisconsin courtesy of Destination Kohler, the host of the 2020 Ryder Cup. They'll stay at The American Club and get multiple rounds of golf, including one at Whistling Straits, the site of last year's PGA Championship.
The lowest scoring and highest fundraising teams at each participating course also win prizes.
I know what I'll be doing the day after the final round of the PGA Championship: teeing it up, playing for a cause and making a little more history in the process.
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