Nations Best in Maritime Golf Primed for 2010!
The Heidmar Blue & Gray Golf Classics, which are the nation’s best maritime golfing events in the country, saw 1,120 golfers in 2009. In 2010, the tour will introduce a Las Vegas event along with an outing during the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy’s Homecoming celebration. Overall, seven new courses will be added in 2010 while continuing to play at some of the best venues in the United States.
The tour tees off on Thursday, March 11 with the addition of a Las Vegas Blue & Gray Golf Classic being held at the Desert Pines Golf Club. Additionally, the tour has secured a discounted hotel rate at the New York-New York Casino which sits proudly on the famous Las Vegas Boulevard. Also new for 2010 is the Homecoming Blue & Gray Golf Classic being held near Kings Point (N.Y.) at the Engineers Country Club on Thursday, September 23.
The New York and Houston tournaments, which rank No. 1 and No. 2 respectively in golfers, will see over 500 golfers between the two events. The New York Blue & Gray Golf Classic (255 golfers in 2009) will be coordinated on Monday, July 26 at both the Engineers and North Shore Country Clubs, while the Houston Blue & Gray Golf Classic (254 golfers in 2009) will take place on Monday, April 19 at both the Woodlands Country Club (Arnold Palmer Course) and Canongate Resort (Panther Trails Course).
Tournaments in Fort Lauderdale, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Tampa and L.A./Long Beach will all see new courses in 2010. The Fort Lauderdale Blue & Gray Golf Classic receives a major upgrade by moving to Jacaranda Golf Club on April 9. The course recently underwent a $10 million renovation improving the layout, facilities and practice areas. On Florida’s west coast, the Tampa Blue & Gray Golf Classic will check out the sights and sounds of the renowned MacDill Air Force Base – South Course on Monday, November 1. The course is ranked as one of the area’s best private courses and sits right on the water.
The Washington, D.C. Blue & Gray Golf Classic will be held on Monday, May 24 at the Country Club of Fairfax to coincide with Maritime Day, which is the national holiday (May 22) celebrating the Maritime Industry and its importance in U.S. History.
Moving west, the Chicago and L.A./Long Beach outings will see new venues. The Chicago Blue & Gray Golf Classic will take place at Prairie Landing Golf Club on Monday, June 14. The course is just miles from BP American and holds a 4 1/2 Star Ranking from Golf Digest. In Los Angeles, the L.A. / Long Beach Blue & Gray Golf Classic moves away from Trump National Golf Club to help ease escalating registration fees. The SeaCliff Country Club (private) in Huntington Beach will be the new home of the L.A. / Long Beach Outing on Monday, November 15.
The end of September and October will see four Blue & Gray Golf Classics. Crowd favorites, Norfolk (9/27), San Francisco (10/7), New Orleans (10/11) and Baltimore (10/19) will continue to be held at their respective courses. In San Francisco, the Blue Angels will continue to fly overhead at the Presidio Golf Course, while in Baltimore, the event will take place at Bulle Rock, which is a Golf Digest Top 100 Course in the country.