Old Orchard Golf Club in Richmond set to close Nov. 11

SAN ANTONIO, TX -- One hundred and twenty-five charities and schools are taking advantage of the Valero Texas Open, to generate much-needed financial support for their programs. They are teaming up with Golf San Antonio to participate in Birdies for Charity® and Save Our Sports.

Charity and school representatives hooked up with defending champion, Justin Leonard, who was at the Westin LaCantera Resort in San Antonio for the Tournament's Media Day, to tee off the 2002 campaign for both programs.

Media and Tournament sponsor representatives joined in the fun, using their golf skills and a bit of luck to help Golf San Antonio donate $7,500 to start fundraising on a positive note. Each team was randomly assigned a charity or school, which then received $25 for each birdie their team made. A random drawing was used to distribute the balance of the money.

Birdies for Charity is poised to reach a record level in 2002. Eighty-two charities and 19 schools will be out in force to solicit individual and corporate pledges of one penny or more for every birdie made by the PGA Tour players during the Valero Texas Open at LaCantera. The total of 101 organizations is up from 91 participants last year; who collectively raised a record $222,630 in collected pledges (total pledges in 2001 where over $249,000).

The 19 schools in Birdies for Charity are also participating in Save Our Sports, which this year currently has 43 schools enrolled. Last year, the same number of schools generated more than $90,000 through the sale of discounted tickets to the Tournament. Golf San Antonio is confident that the attention surrounding Justin Leonard's pursuit of a third consecutive victory will help drive interest and ticket sales, and help the schools exceed last year's record numbers.

Both programs are getting a boost from Leonard, who will appear in a public service announcement that will air starting the week of August 15th.

The official Birdies for Charity Pledge Drive continues through September 13, 2002. Since 1997, Golf San Antonio, through the San Antonio Children's Foundation, has donated over $850,000 raised through Birdies for Charity.

The 2002 Valero Texas Open at LaCantera is scheduled for the week of September 23-29. Since 1938, the Tournament has generated nearly $4.5 million in charitable contributions, including over $2 million since 1997. For more information on Birdies for Charity or for Ticket and hospitality packages contact Golf San Antonio at (210) 341-0823 or visit the Golf San Antonio website at www.golfsanantonio.org.

Individual tickets may be purchased through TicketMaster at 1-877-280-7145 or via www.ticketmaster.com. Golf San Antonio will announce another ticket distribution channel on August 15th. -- Tony Piazzi

Reader Comments / Reviews Leave a comment
  • Old Orchard

    Larry Knox wrote on: Aug 23, 2005

    It's terrible that such a quality course falls to developers when the area is surrounded by open land. I'm originally from Tennessee and this course reminds me of courses there, no houses, trees, and gently rolling terrain. The best course I've played in Texas.

    Reply