Volunteer information will be available soon for the inaugural Ford Wayne Gretzky Classic, coming to the Georgian Bay Club and the Raven at Lora Bay this June.
Glen Gretzky, brother of hockey legend Wayne, is one of the organizers of the event which will be a stop on the Nationwide Tour. He outlined some of the plans for the event at The Blue Mountains Chamber of Commerce annual general meeting Wednesday.
The format will have 160 Nationwide Tour pros playing their own tournament and also pairing up with 160 amateurs.
The pro field will include 145 players from the Nationwide Tour, the top 'minor league' in professional golf and affiliated with the PGA Tour. As well there will be five players from the Canadian Tour and 10 other pros on 'sponsor exemptions'.
The TELUS World Skins Game served as a good introduction for the area, Glen Gretzky said.
"The guys have been hearing about these courses and this area and the word on the tour is that they can't wait to come up here," he said.
This event will be the only Canadian stop for the Nationwide Tour.
The Nationwide Tour's current roster includes players from around the world, including about seven Canadians. Most of the players are up-and-coming pros hoping to work their way up to the PGA Tour.
Others have had a taste of life on the big tour but weren't able to rack up enough winnings to stay there and are trying to get back. Among their number are Canadians David Morland IV and Jim Rutledge.
The organizers are planning on having 35 to 40 celebrities on hand in the field of amateurs, including Wayne Gretzky. Other celebrities will be announced in coming weeks.
The purse for the professionals will total about $800,099, with the winner taking home about $144,000, Glen Gretzky told the Chamber meeting. The winning celebrity and amateur players each receive a new Ford vehicle.
Plans call for practice rounds Monday, June 23, Tuesday, June 24,and Wednesday, June 25, at both the Georgian Bay Club and Lora Bay courses. Tournament play opens Thursday, June 26, and continues on Friday, June 27 at both courses.
The Golf Channel will be airing tournament coverage in prime time followed by a late-night repeat.
The final two rounds -- with the professional field cut to the lowest 60 scores -- will be played at Georgian Bay Club. The amateur field will be cut to the top 10 teams (six celebrity teams and four amateur teams).
Tickets for the event will go for $35 for a weekly pass and $9.99 for a daily pass during tournament play. Admission for the practice rounds is free for everyone. Children 16 years and under can attend the tournament rounds free.
Gretzky said 400 to 500 volunteers will be needed for the event. A website is to be ready sometime this week, and people interested in volunteering can send an e-mail to volunteer_99@sympatico.ca.
Proceeds of the event will go to the Wayne Gretzky Foundation which funds programs that use hockey to help instill positive life skills in disadvantaged children.
