FAIRBORN, OH – The PGA REACH Southern Ohio Foundation is excited to announce the return of the Play Yellow Birdie Bash to Kinsale Golf and Fitness Club in Powell, OH on Tuesday, May 21, 2024! Throughout the next two months leading up to the event, 20 teams of Southern Ohio PGA Professionals will collect pledges to add to the more than $500,000 the event has raised for the three local Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and PGA REACH Southern Ohio in the last two years.
Click here to view the 2024 event’s team roster and make a pledge.
In partnership with Play Yellow, a Program for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals; PGA REACH Southern Ohio hosts the annual event to raise money for the local children’s hospitals in Columbus, Cincinnati and Dayton. Funds from the previous events have aided the hospitals in purchasing life-saving treatments, innovative research, vital medical equipment, child life services and so much more. That could be ambulance incubators that allow the tiniest of patients to be transported safely with the right life-saving equipment, specialized services like art therapy, and or every day needs like diapers, pediatric-sized pressure cuffs, and child-size hospital gowns.
Based on the incredible success of the annual event, PGA REACH Southern Ohio has been able to make a significant difference in the Southern Ohio community supporting their three main pillars: Youth, Military and Inclusion. Through these pillars, the Foundation strives to grow the game of golf and help better the lives of everyone involved. A portion of the dollars raised through Play Yellow Birdie Bash will help support programming designed to enhance the lives of our military veterans, youth golfers and those that wouldn’t otherwise be introduced to the game of golf.
The PGA REACH Southern Ohio launched a scholarship program in 2021 which has awarded four scholarships to deserving junior golfers, each a four-year scholarship valued at $1,000 annually while they pursue higher education. The organization also introduced a new grant program to support juniors on their quest to play the game. Furthermore, the success of the Birdie Bash allowed the expansion of the PGA H.O.P.E. (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) program to not only introduce the game of golf to the Active Duty and Veteran military community but to also provide post-program opportunities growing in the game as a low-stakes outlet away from the high-stress environment they are surrounded by while protecting our country.
The success of the event has expanded outside of Southern Ohio as well. In 2024, nine PGA of America Sections across the country will host 11 Play Yellow Birdie Bash themed events as they strived to fundraise for their local Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. The program has raised more than $2.2 million with more PGA Sections scheduled to host an event in the future.
Team Roster
The following teams are playing in the 2024 Play Yellow Birdie Bash on Tuesday, May 21, 2024 at Kinsale Golf and Fitness Club:
Chase Wilson, Columbus Country Club and Ryan Coll, Columbus Country Club
Rob Smyser, Heritage Golf Club and Brian Sullivan, Heritage Golf Club
Ben Kern, Hickory Hills Golf Club and Chris Muse, Hickory Hills Golf Club
Brian Jones, Kenwood Country Club and Jon Balyeat, Kenwood Country Club
Andy Montgomery, Kinsale Golf & Fitness Club and Alex Brickley, Kinsale Golf & Fitness Club
Dave MacLaughlin, the Club at Little Turtle and Andy Oxender, the Club at Little Turtle
Chad Ammer, Maketewah Country Club and Ian Prats, Maketewah Country Club
Peter Dornish, Muirfield Village Golf Club and Carter Cheek, Muirfield Village Golf Club
Gip Hoagland, NCR Country Club and Hannah McCrabb, NCR Country Club
Rob Karnes, NCR Country Club and Jeff Grant, NCR Country Club
Joe Falardeau, Scioto Country Club and Chris Yoder, Scioto Country Club
Ben Bastel, Worthington Hills Country Club and Justin Van Heukelom, Worthington Hills CC
Jeff Olson, the Golf Club of Dublin and Krissy Austin, the Golf Club of Dublin
Dan Gage, Wedgewood Golf & CC and Joey Glander, Brookside Golf & Country Club
Chad Gilligan, Losantiville Country Club and Doug Wade, Sugar Valley Golf Club
Ashley Thomas, GOLFTEC – Blue Ash and Mike Thomas, Sharon Woods Golf Course
Kyle Sanders, Ivy Hills Country Club and Drew Muhich, O’Bannon Creek Golf Club
Joe Stago, GOLFTEC – Dublin and Pat Bernot, GOLFTEC – Easton (with Joshua Boggs tagging in)
Tom Bach, Heatherwoode and Anthony Andrews, Blue Ash Golf Course
Mitchell Enzweiler, Wyoming Golf Club and Matthew Brewer, Cincinnati Country Club
About the Southern Ohio PGA Play Yellow Birdie Bash
The Southern Ohio PGA Play Yellow Birdie Bash features club golf professionals from all over Southern Ohio competing in a Doubles Golf (two-person scramble) format to raise money by making as many birdies as possible. Each team is responsible for recruiting as many donors as possible, who pledge to contribute money for each birdie the team makes throughout the Play Yellow Birdie Bash event day. Each team plays 72 holes in total, providing ample opportunity for birdies and donations. This all-day event is intended to be a fun and laid-back experience for all who participate, with the added bonus of raising money for a great cause.
About Play Yellow, a program for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals
Led by Jack and Barbara Nicklaus and Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, and in cooperation with the PGA TOUR, “Play Yellow, a program for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals” strives to bring the entire golf world together through charitable initiatives to help the 10 million kids treated at local children’s hospitals each year. For more information visit www.playyellow.org. For the latest news and updates on social media, follow Play Yellow on Twitter and Instagram at @PlayYellow4Kids and on Facebook at facebook.com/playyellow4kids.
About Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals
Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals has raised more than $7 billion in unrestricted funds for 170 children’s hospitals across the United States and Canada. Dollars raised stay local and supports each hospital’s most urgent needs, whether that’s providing care to children without insurance, investing in research that discovers life-saving treatments and cures, training the next generation of doctors and nurses, or offering families comfort and peace of mind during the most trying moments of their lives. Changing the health of even one child or family creates a ripple effect felt by communities for years to come. When we change kid’s health, we change the future—for all of us. Learn more at www.ChildrensMiracleNetworkHospitals.org.
About the Southern Ohio PGA
The Southern Ohio Section, PGA of America is an association of nearly 475 golf professionals whose mission is to promote the interest, participation and enjoyment in the game itself; establish and maintain professional standards of practice, and enhance the well-being of golf professionals. The Southern Ohio Section was founded in 1946. Find out more at www.thesouthernohiopga.com.
About PGA REACH Southern Ohio Foundation
Established in 2010, the PGA REACH Southern Ohio Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and the philanthropic arm of the Southern Ohio PGA Section, one of the 41 sections in the PGA of America. The SOPGA REACH Foundation is committed to serving our communities and growing the game of golf through three pillars – Youth, Military, and Diversity & Inclusion. PGA REACH Southern Ohio programs include the SOPGA Junior Tour, PGA Jr. League, PGA HOPE, the SOPGA Jr. Tour Grant, the SOPGA REACH Scholarship Program and the PGA WORKS Fellowship.