Geneva National to Host Red Nose Day Walgreens Charity Championship
Red Nose Day Walgreens Charity Championship Brings Legends Tour To Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
BOSTON, Jan. 17, 2017 – The Legends Tour, the official senior tour of the LPGA, announced that tournament sponsor Walgreens will rename and relocate its annual Walgreens Charity Championship.
Previously held in Delray Beach, Fla., this year’s new event, the Red Nose Day Walgreens Charity Championship, will be held May 17-21, in Lake Geneva, Wis.
Geneva National Resort in Lake Geneva -- located 90 minutes north of Chicago – will host some of the most legendary names in women’s golf for The Red Nose Day Walgreens Charity Championship. All proceeds from the championship will benefit Red Nose Day.
“We are thrilled to announce a new event in the greater Chicago area in partnership with Walgreens,” said Jane Blalock, CEO of The Legends Tour. “Geneva National Resort is an outstanding destination and truly a championship venue. The Legends are very much looking forward to this new stop in May – and they will pack their Red Noses.”
Walgreens is a key partner of Red Nose Day, which uses the power of entertainment to raise awareness and money to help save and change the lives of children who are most in need, both in the United States and around the world.
Walgreens is the exclusive retailer of the annual campaign’s iconic Red Noses. Red Nose Day has raised more than $1 billion globally in the last 25-plus years, and more than $60 million since its 2015 launch in the U.S. Funds raised support programs that ensure children who need help the most are safe, healthy and educated.
“Walgreens is proud to work with the Legends Tour to bring greater awareness to Red Nose Day and our efforts to help children in poverty,” said Linda Filler, president of retail products and chief merchandising and marketing officer for Walgreens.
“Happiness and health are at the heart of Walgreens’ purpose and at the heart of what Red Nose Day is all about,” Filler added. “We’re pleased to continue our sponsorship of this great event at golf destination Geneva National, and to have these legendary golfers join us in this powerful campaign.”
Sixty legends of the LPGA will compete in the championship for a purse of $300,000. The Legends Tour membership includes such LPGA Hall of Famers as Nancy Lopez, Juli Inkster, Laura Davies, Patty Sheehan, Pat Bradley and Beth Daniel. Field commitments will be announced leading up to the event.
During tournament week, the official pro-am will be held Thursday, May 18, followed by practice rounds on Friday, May 19. Professional tournament rounds will be held on Saturday and Sunday, May 20-21.
Geneva National’s Gary Player Course opened with nine holes in 1995, with nine more holes added in 2000. The course’s 18 holes weave through forest, wetlands and rolling Wisconsin countryside and overlook scenic shoreline vistas.
Not a newcomer to women’s professional golf, Geneva National hosted the LPGA’s Duramed Futures Tour, now called the Symetra Tour, for three years. During that time, Geneva National was showcased both as a challenging championship venue, as well as an accommodating resort for the LPGA’s developmental tour.
“With 54 outstanding holes by Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Lee Trevino, Geneva National is synonymous with legendary golf,” said COO Kevin Paluch. “So where better for today’s female legends of the game to play? We owe it to the sport, to these esteemed golfers, and to our community to provide a premier platform for this competition.”
For more information about The Legends Tour, visit www.thelegendstour.com.
About The Legends Tour
The Legends Tour is the official senior tour of the LPGA. The tour began in 2000 by LPGA professionals to showcase the talents of some of the greatest women’s golfers of all time. The Legends Tour has more than 120 members, including 14 LPGA and World Golf Hall of Fame members. Legends Tour players have over 750 combined LPGA Tour victories, including 84 major championships. In its 15 seasons, The Legends Tour has awarded more than $13 million in prize money and helped raise over $17 million for charity. The Legends Tour has hosted events in Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Mississippi, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Japan and Australia. For additional information on The Legends Tour, log on to www.thelegendstour.com.
About Geneva National Resort
Home of Golf Digest’s “Top Ten Wisconsin Golf Courses,” Golfweek’s Best Resort Courses” and Golf Magazine’s “Top Courses you Can Play,” Geneva National has made legendary golf a tradition for 25 years with three distinct championship courses uniquely designed by masters Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Lee Trevino. A semi-private club, Geneva National is home to the five-star Hunt Club Steakhouse in the former Crane Manor, the boutique Inns of Geneva National group lodging, and 10,000 square feet of exquisite event space.
About Red Nose Day
Red Nose Day (rednoseday.org) is run by the non-profit organization Comic Relief Inc. (comicrelief.org), a registered 501(c)(3) public charity. Red Nose Day started in the UK, and has raised over $1 billion globally in the last 25+ years.
Red Nose Day launched in the U.S. in May 2015, dedicated to raising money and awareness to end child poverty, and has raised nearly $60 million in its first two years in America. Red Nose Day 2016 was held on May 26. Money goes to the Red Nose Day Fund, which supports programs that keep children and young people who are most in need safe, healthy and educated - both in the US and some of the poorest communities around the world.
Since its launch in the US, Red Nose Day has received generous support from millions of Americans and outstanding partners Walgreens, NBC, Mars, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Contact: Sue Fracker, The Legends Tour, sfracker@jbcgolf.com and 617-513-4716.
Event Schedule
During tournament week, the official pro-am will be held Thursday, May 18, followed by practice rounds on Friday, May 19. Professional tournament rounds will be held on Saturday and Sunday, May 20-21. In addition, Geneva National’s Heidi Hass-Brotchie and some of the LGPA senior tour professionals will hold a special junior clinic Friday afternoon , May 19 that will include a Q&A with the pros, learning stations, and favors for participants. Fees for the clinic will go directly to Red Nose Day.
Not a newcomer to women’s professional golf, Geneva National hosted the LPGA’s Duramed Futures Tour, now called the Symetra Tour, for three years. During that time, Geneva National was showcased both as a challenging championship venue, as well as an accommodating resort for the LPGA’s developmental tour.
“With 54 outstanding holes by Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Lee Trevino, Geneva National is synonymous with legendary golf,” said COO Kevin Paluch. “So where better for today’s female legends of the game to play? We owe it to the sport, to these esteemed golfers, and to our community to provide a premier platform for this competition.”
Managed by Paloma Resort Properties, Geneva National Golf Club & Resort is located along the wooded slopes and shores of Lake Como in Chicago's version of the Hamptons - Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Geneva National features a legendary trifecta of semi-private golf courses designed by Palmer, Player and Trevino at one singular and stellar location.
