An Honorable Challenge, And More…

This week, the golf action is coming from our extended “family.” While none of our Team RSM members are playing, five of our RSM Classic champions are on various courses around the world. In China, 2015 RSM Classic winner Kevin Kisner is playing in the World Golf Championships. In Jackson, MS, our past tournament winners: Heath Slocum (2010), Ben Crane (2011), Tommy “Two Gloves” Gainey (2012) and Chris Kirk (2013), are playing in the Sanderson Farms Championship. We are particularly happy to see Tommy back on the course! Best of luck to all our “guys” this week!

And speaking of RSM Classic champions, we are so close to finding out who our 2016 winner will be! We’re just under the three-week mark until tee time, and are looking forward to another wonderful tournament. Something new this year: the Folds of Honor Million Dollar Challenge. For those attending The RSM Classic Sat., Nov. 19, you will have an opportunity to test your golf skills and possibly win $1 million – all while raising valuable funds for The Folds of Honor Foundation. Participants will compete in a “Closest to the Pin” contest, with 13 finalists qualifying for a one-shot Challenge Round immediately following the third round of The RSM Classic. The finalist who hits his or her shot closest to the pin will win a Grand Prize Package, and a Hole-in-One is worth $1 million! Check out these details below:

QUALIFYING ROUND

When:  Qualifying will be on Saturday, November 19 from 8am to 2pm

Where:  #1 Fairway on the Plantation Course at Sea Island Golf Club

Distance:  Approx. 125 yards

Details:  Participants will receive two (2) shots with a $20 donation to The Folds of Honor Foundation.  Nine (9) “Closest to the Pin” qualifiers and four (4) participants chosen-at-large will qualify to compete in the Challenge Round.

 

MILLION DOLLAR SHOOTOUT

When:  Immediately following the Third Round of The RSM Classic

Where:  Seaside Course (Hole TBD)

Distance:  Approx. 175 yards

Details:  Each of the thirteen (13) finalists will have one shot.  The “Closest to the Pin” will win a Grand Prize Package and a Hole-in-One during the Shootout will win $1 million*!

* $500,000 paid to the individual who makes a “Hole-In-One” paid in a 40-year annuity and $500,000 donated to The Folds of Honor Foundation. 

 

 

As we get closer to the start of the seventh annual RSM Classic, our player field is shaping up with some incredible players! PGA TOUR Professionals have until 5pm ET on Fri., Nov. 11, to commit to play in this year’s tournament. Eligible players are assigned one of 34 PGA TOUR priority ranking categories based on their past performance on the PGA TOUR and Web.com Tour. The field will continue to change as players with higher priority rankings commit to play in the tournament. Check out the list of players who have already committed.

 

 

Before signing off this week, we’d like to wish our readers a fun, safe and a maybe even a little bit of a spooky Halloween!

Be sure to stop by next week to learn the latest on Team RSM and the 2016 RSM Classic (Nov. 14-20).

The Year of DL3

To say that 2016 has been a good year for Team RSM Member, and host of The RSM Classic, Davis Love III, would be an understatement. After serving as the 2016 Team USA Ryder Cup Captain, his most recent recognition came earlier this week when the World Golf Hall of Fame announced Davis’s induction into the class of 2017. An article by Golf.com explains that to be eligible as a competitor for the Hall of Fame, golfers must have won at least 15 times on Tour (Davis has won 21!) or have won at least two majors. Here at RSM, we are thrilled about this well-deserved recognition. Congratulations, Davis!  

Some other fun news released earlier this week: the Ryder Cup trophy is making its way across the country, stopping off with each Team USA member and captain so they can each spend a week with it. Stay tuned for more on that, as we’re sure there’ll be some good updates shared via social media as the trophy makes its rounds.  

In the UK, our RSM member firm, in collaboration with the European Tour, recently launched a performance study of the game of golf. The focus will be determined by a panel of leading golf minds and experts. We’ll be sure to let you know when the results are released, as it’ll likely be very informative to learn more about the game.

And speaking of studies, did you know playing golf can reduce your chance of disease and diabetes? Golf & Health shared some great information about the well-being benefits. Learn more about it here. (You might even be able to use to it to convince your “significant other” that you need to spend more time on the course.)

We’re now just a little more than three weeks away from the 2016 RSM Classic, so you might be able to imagine how busy things are, especially at Sea Island. Building of the temporary infrastructure for the tournament is under way, as we prepare for the seventh year of this prestigious PGA TOUR event. Be sure to mark your calendar for Nov. 14-20, and purchase your tickets if you plan to attend in person!

Check back next week to learn the latest on Team RSM and The RSM Classic.

After the Storm

We’d like to begin this week’s post by acknowledging those who were impacted last week by Hurricane Matthew. Our thoughts and prayers are with those who suffered property damage and, most importantly, to those who were injured or lost loved ones as a result of this natural disaster. We’d like to also express our gratitude for those who were spared from the storm and/or those who suffered minimal damage, including Sea Island, home of The RSM Classic. While the island was evacuated in preparation for the storm, we are relieved that our friends there (relationships that have been built and strengthened over time since the tournament’s inception in 2010) are safe and that they were able to return home this week. We are fortunate that the course and resort received minimal damage. We send our best wishes to those on the island who did suffer damage and/or losses and who are now rebuilding their lives. We look forward to visiting the Golden Isles next month, and we hope that the tournament will have a positive economic impact on the island.

Speaking of the tournament, once again this year, there will be numerous activities happening each day during tournament week. Take a look at schedule breakdown so you can start planning your experience:

MONDAY

• Community Day — grounds open to the public FREE of charge

• Youth Day sponsored by Southeast Georgia Health System — Special Activities from 2pm to 4pm

• Monday Pro-Am Event — Seaside Course

• Practice rounds for PGA TOUR Players — All Day

TUESDAY

• Grounds closed to the general public

• Practice rounds for PGA TOUR Players — All Day

• Wiffle Ball Classic presented by Krispy Kreme featuring PGA TOUR Players and Wives — FREE to the public, Frederica Academy Baseball Field, 5pm

• Meet the Pros hosted by Rotary Club of St Simons Island — Retreat Ballroom, 5pm
 

WEDNESDAY

• Gates open at approx. 7am

• The Yamaha Pro-Am Event — located on Seaside and Plantation Courses

• Charity Putting Event featuring PGA TOUR Players — Sea Island Golf Performance Center Practice Putting Green, 4pm

THURSDAY

• Gates open at approx. 8am

• All hospitality venues open at 10am

• Round 1 of The RSM Classic (Seaside and Plantation Courses) — Tee Times TBD

• Chamber of Commerce Day & Mixer featuring Live Music and Happy Hour immediately following the completion of play

FRIDAY

• Gates open at approx. 8am

• All hospitality venues open at 10am

• Round 2 of The RSM Classic (Seaside and Plantation Courses) — Tee Times TBD

• Taste of the Golden Isles Food & Spirits Event in the Pier Village featuring a unique culinary experience and Live Music, 5pm

SATURDAY

• Military Appreciation Day

• Gates open at approx. 8am

• All hospitality venues open at 10am

• Round 3 of The RSM Classic (Seaside Course only) — Tee Times TBD

• The RSM Classic Concert Event featuring Cole Swindell presented by Southeast Georgia Health System — McKinnon/St Simons Island Airport
 

SUNDAY

• Gates open at approx. 8am

• All hospitality venues open at 10am

• Final Round of The RSM Classic (Seaside Course only) — Tee Times TBD

• Trophy Presentation on the 18th green immediately following the completion of play

 

And, while it’s not too late, we are getting close so be sure to purchase your RSM Classic tickets here.

Check back next week for the latest on The RSM Classic and Team RSM. 
 

USA for the win!

What a past week of golf it has been! Everyone here at RSM is thrilled to congratulate Team RSM members Davis Love III and Zach Johnson, along with the rest of Team USA, for winning the 2016 Ryder Cup! This is the first time the U.S. has won the Ryder Cup since 2008. Way to go, Team USA!

And the good times just keep coming for Davis! Earlier this week at Captain’s Day to celebrate the one-year countdown to the 2017 Presidents Cup, both captains from the U.S. and Europe announced their captains’ assistants. U.S. Team Captain Steve Stricker named Fred Couples, Davis Love III and Tiger Woods; Nick Price appointed Ernie Els, Tony Johnstone and Geoff Ogilvy. You can learn more here.  

And speaking of countdowns, we’re a mere 38 days until we tee off the 2016 RSM Classic (Nov. 14 – 20)! Tickets are still available, and you can view the options here. If you’re attending the tournament over the weekend, you won’t want to miss country star Cole Swindell’s concert on Sat., Nov. 19. Get your tickets today, and then check back next week as we share more about The RSM Classic and Team RSM.

We’ll have a few special guest posts on our blog between now and tournament week, as well, so be sure to check back every Thursday leading up to The RSM Classic, and daily throughout the tournament.