by LARRY HALL
PALM COAST, Florida – Name three professional golf tournaments in the United States where you might find a direct ocean front view from a tee box. Pebble Beach and Torrey Pines immediately come to mind. But what is the third?
Until now, I could not think of another. Soon, however, there will be another one.
The Constellation Furyk & Friends Presented by Circle K has found a new home along Florida’s Atlantic Coast. Beginning this year, the tournament moves to Palm Coast, Florida, where it will be played on the Jack Nicklaus-designed Ocean Course at Hammock Beach Golf Resort & Spa, October 5-11.
And if the tournament’s Media Day is any indication, Furyk & Friends is about to become much more than a professional golf tournament.
Jim and Tabitha Furyk hosted a recent Media Day to promote the event, giving media a preview of what fans can expect at the tournament’s new home. There will, of course, be plenty of exceptional golf from some of the game’s most recognizable legends aged 50 and older. But there will also be live music, distinctive food and drink experiences, fan activities and an atmosphere designed to make the tournament enjoyable for golfers and non-golfers alike.
Just as important, the move gives the Jim & Tabitha Furyk Foundation an opportunity to expand its footprint and charitable impact into the Palm Coast community.
Tournament Director Adam Renfroe offered a preview of several new attractions planned for this year’s event.
Golf, Ocean Views and $2 Beers
On the par-3 17th hole, Circle K will create the Circle K Par Tee Porch, an oceanfront gathering spot open to the public. And there is a particularly appealing incentive for fans: beers will be just $2 for every birdie made on the hole.
Watching professional golfers attack a par 3 with the Atlantic Ocean as a backdrop, then celebrating their birdies with a $2 beer, sounds like a pretty good way to spend an afternoon.
Another new attraction should be particularly meaningful to members of the military. The VyStar Outpost, located beside the ninth green, will offer complimentary food and beverages to military personnel and their families. VyStar Credit Union members will also have access to the hospitality area.
Then there is The Boardwalk, presented by Integrative Wealth Management. Billed as the tournament’s most robust fan zone yet, The Boardwalk will be located on the 18th hole and feature food trucks, LED video boards and plenty of space to relax while keeping up with the action on the course. Fans can even catch their favorite football game while watching the pros.
For those who want to test their own golf game, Bird Golf Academy will provide a golf simulator where fans can test their swing or even play a virtual version of the Ocean Course.
And what would a Florida golf tournament be without a place to enjoy a cold beverage? The Sand Bar will offer a selection of tournament cocktails created specifically for Furyk & Friends. Members of the media were given the opportunity to sample several at Media Day, and they were a hit.
From Birdies to Billy Currington
When the sun begins to set, the entertainment continues.
Renfroe announced that the Furyk Foundation Concert, sponsored by Ring Power, will return this year with country music star Billy Currington headlining the concert at The Boardwalk. A Friday tournament ticket costs $50 and includes admission to the concert, making it an attractive combination of professional golf and live entertainment.
Saturday and Sunday tickets are just $25 each. Tickets are available through the tournament website and Ticketmaster. Military personnel, college students and children under 17 will receive free admission.
A Little Lagniappe
For those looking for a little something extra, Furyk & Friends has that covered, too.
Club 58 will provide premium seating on the 16th tee, with views stretching across the 15th, 16th and 17th holes. Wine and beer are included with access.
Then there is The Grotto, located near the 18th hole, with views comparable to Pebble Beach’s famous finishing hole. Perhaps best described as “Super Lagniappe,” The Grotto will provide all-inclusive food and beverages throughout the day.
The 18th Hole
With that combination of golf, food, entertainment and hospitality, it is clear that Furyk & Friends is positioning itself as an event that appeals to a much broader audience than the traditional golf fan.
Emcee Chris Reimer summed it up nicely after Renfroe’s presentation. There will be something for everyone, whether your primary interest is professional golf, the social experience surrounding it, or simply being part of an event that gives back to the community.
The Real Reason Behind the Tournament
That final point is particularly important to Jim and Tabitha Furyk.
When Reimer asked Tabitha about the Furyk Foundation’s impact on charities and the local community, she announced a milestone that clearly means a great deal to both of them.
To date, the Furyk Foundation has raised more than $5.45 million for charitable causes.
Tabitha shared several stories illustrating how those funds have helped organizations and people in need. But perhaps her most important message was that everyone attending the tournament is contributing to that effort.
“At the end of the day, all of these funds are going towards charity, and we’re making a difference in people’s lives,” she told the media. “Whether it’s from sponsorship, buying an individual ticket, or whatever it is you’re doing, you are making a difference.”
That may be the most important aspect of Furyk & Friends. The tournament is designed to entertain, but its ultimate purpose is to make a difference in the lives of others.
A New Home for Furyk & Friends
Jim Furyk closed the Media Day program by talking about both the tournament and its new home.
“Our tournament has been voted as the Players’ Favorite Champions Tour Event twice, and now with the ocean vistas and course design, I think that appreciation will only grow,” Furyk said.
Furyk also revealed that Lee Trevino will be the special guest at the Champions Breakfast. Trevino, one of golf’s greatest characters and ambassadors, is sure to provide plenty of stories, laughs and memorable moments. And if past appearances are any indication, he will probably spend much of the week holding court with fans.
Following a brief Q&A with the speakers, the media group was shuttled to the practice range, climbed into golf carts and headed out for a preview round on the Ocean Course.
The Ocean Course is an impressive setting for professional golf. The Nicklaus design provides plenty of strategic challenges, while the Atlantic Ocean provides the kind of backdrop that makes you stop for a moment and appreciate where you are.
After playing the course myself, I came away with a simple conclusion:
Furyk & Friends may have found its permanent home.
Pebble Beach has Stillwater Cove. Torrey Pines has its spectacular coastline.
Now Palm Coast has Furyk & Friends.
And come October, golf fans will have another professional tournament where the view from the tee box is every bit as memorable as the golf itself.
https://constellationfurykandfriends.com/
(Larry Hall, a Jacksonville, Florida-based golf writer, is a member of Golf Heritage Society, Golf Writers Association of America, Historical Writers of America, International Network of Golf and Golf Travel Writers of America. He can be reached at: bgtriptips@gmail.com)
Photo Credits: Katherine Hall
