On June 24, 2013, Champions Tour professionals and amateurs gathered at Rich Harvest Farms (Sugar Grove, Ill.) for the inaugural Chip Beck #59 Champion’s Tour Pro-Am in support of a wonderful cause. We were excited to welcome a spectacular field of 15 tour players who enjoyed their day, especially during the intimate question and answer discussion, where they shared their stories with the amateurs. This special and personal interaction allowed the message of the event to shine through, which was to celebrate the growth of the game and its power to help us succeed in all areas of life and ultimately give back to the next generation of golf – the youth.
This is especially true for Chip Beck, this year’s event partner who we could not have been more honored to involve. Beck was introduced to golf at age 10 when he attended a junior golf clinic with his mother in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Known for his contagious positive attitude, Beck went on to play golf for the University of Georgia and was a three-time All-American. The “#59” featured in the Pro-Am’s name stands for one of Beck’s most notable achievements when he became the second golfer to score a 59 in PGA Tour history; a feat only five PGA Tour golfers – including Beck – can claim today. Having a passion for youth, Beck was proud to support the Foundation and start a Pro-Am in his name.
“It means a lot for me to be involved in this event because it embodies the message of the Kids Golf Foundation, which I find very important,” said Beck. “Bringing children to this great game will only help them in life and in all areas – school, friendships, etc. Golf truly does change people’s lives.”
Another Champions Tour player who believes strongly in this message is Bob Murphy, who we have to thank for starting the tradition of giving back through a Pro-Am. The Chip Beck Pro-Am was mirrored after the Bob Murphy Pro-Am that the Foundation annually hosted at Rich Harvest Farms for ten years as their main fundraiser. As an advocate for growing the game through organizations like the Foundation, Murphy is a close friend of the Rich Family and was pleased to be a part of the original Pro-Am, having now passed the torch to Chip.
“It was terrific to return to Rich Harvest and see the enthusiasm for the event,” Murphy stated. “Chip Beck is perfect for a leader and his professional contacts voiced just that. I look forward to next year!”
This Pro-Am raised significant dollars to support the many programs that are funded by the Kids Golf Foundation from summer clinics, indoor programs, and annual mentoring events. As the largest junior golf organizations in the state, the Foundation offers and supports several golf programs and events designed to introduce children between the ages of 5 and 17 to the sport of golf, its fundamentals, rules, history, etiquette, life lessons, and more. Since its inception in 1998, the Foundation has impacted the lives of over 150,000 youth. To learn more about the Foundation and how you can help change kids’ lives, please visit www.kidsgolffoundation.org.
Lastly, we were also proud to have Northern Trust involved again, as the former sponsor of the Bob Murphy Pro-Am for ten years. “Northern Trust has a deep heritage of community involvement, with a focus on empowering youth through innovative and exemplary programs like The Kids Golf Foundation of Illinois,” Northern Trust Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Frederick H. Waddell said. “For that reason, we are proud to sponsor this year’s Chip Beck #59 Champions Tour Pro-Am at Rich Harvest Farms.”
Details on next year’s Chip Beck Pro-Am will be announced in the near future and will be posted to www.richharvestfarms.com when available.