The Heidmar Blue and Gray Golf Classics are 12 national golf tournaments coordinated by the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) Alumni Foundation.
The tournaments benefit the United States Merchant Marine Academy Department of Athletics and are open to the entire Merchant Marine Academy family. This family is comprised of Merchant Marine Academy alumni, Maritime Industry employees, Midshipmen families and friends of the Academy.
In 2007, the Golf Classics increased in participation by 35% with a record 1,160 golfers in 11 events and raised a record $202,000 in net proceeds for the Athletic Department. The tour grows to 12 outings in 2008 with additions of Chesapeake Bay (Md.) and New Jersey, replacing the Pennsylvania outing. Playing at quality courses such as Engineers Country Club (New York), Woodlands Country Club (Houston) and Trump National (Los Angeles), it is no surprise the Golf Classics are attracting more and more participants each and every year. Virtually every tournament venue has been enhanced to offer participants the most exciting golf outing.
The reason for this national effort is that the USMMA Athletics Department does not receive federal funds for its operating budget. The proceeds derived from the outings go directly to the athletic department to enhance the overall athletic experience for the entire campus. Know that approximately 66% of the entire regiment participates in varsity athletics while the entire regiment uses the facilities for physical fitness and education.
Heidmar, Inc., the Blue & Gray Golf Classic National Title Sponsor, has played a major role in this effort. Heidmar, a subsidiary of Morgan Stanley, commercially operates a fleet close to 100 tankers in five revenue sharing pools, which deliver oil products and crude oil on a worldwide basis. Heidmar’s corporate headquarters is located in
The USMMA Athletics Department thanks all of its Blue & Gray supporters. To see the progress and the success of the Athletics Department go to www.usmmasports.com for news, webcasts and all athletic achievements.