The 2013 McGladrey
Classic was an extraordinary event that culminated in a final
round shootout between Chris Kirk and Briny Baird, with Kirk ending as the
victor after sinking a six-foot par putt. My girlfriend Jamie and I were
impressed by every detail of the weekend, and found ourselves saying thank-you
on almost a minute-by-minute basis. We soon realized that this tournament,
among other things, is really a platform to give and also give thanks in so
many ways.
Most obviously, the champion
Chris Kirk was very thankful for McGladrey's title sponsorship of the
tournament. For his win, Kirk took home a $990,000 purse and, with his second
child on the way, there's little doubt where the majority of his winnings will
go.
The Cloister, Lodge
and the entire Sea Island community was thanked by nearly every patron that
passed through the tournament. Their class, generosity, and Southern
hospitality created a special atmosphere that permeated the event.
Then there were the
volunteers, more than 1,200 of them. Team McGladrey
Member Davis Love III took several moments throughout the
festivities on Sunday to publicly thank these volunteers. Without these folks
manning the food booths, question kiosks, and lining the fairways to ensure the
sometimes raucous crowd was quiet as players were standing over their balls, the
tournament could have never been executed at such a flawless level.
Additionally, because the Davis Love
Foundation (DLF) relied on these volunteers instead of hiring
additional employees, the DLF was able to maximize the amount of money given to
charity. (The amount raised through this year's McGladrey Classic is still
being calculated.)
As a firm, The McGladrey Classic
allows us to say thank-you to some of our top clients and potential clients.
Every attendee I spoke with was blown away by the facilities, the service and
the tournament atmosphere.
In keeping with the tradition
of giving thanks, I'd like to take a moment to thank each and every one of the
McGladrey employees and clients who supported our firm's Birdies Fore Love
program this year. Collectively, we raised an estimated $430,000 for children
and family-based charities across the U.S. If you pledged or donated, know that
your generosity will help enhance innumerable lives in our local communities -
and that gift doesn't last a weekend, it lasts a lifetime.
Today’s update is from
Chris Parrish, a supervisor in consulting services with McGladrey, based out of
the firm’s Vienna, VA office. Chris was the national leader for the firm's Birdies Fore
Love initiative. As a result, he was given an opportunity to
attend this year’s McGladrey Classic. Below is a message from Chris about his
experience at the 2013 McGladrey Classic. 
