Golf is a tremendously popular game with an estimated 67 million regular players around the world. Played by men, women and children of all ages, golf has something to offer everyone. It can be played for exercise or sport, it provides substantial social benefits, it’s an excellent way of making business connections and it is challenging.
Golfing in and around Hoover is also convenient. With the number of golfing options provided by Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce member courses, a game is never far away. Whether you’re a member or frequent guest of one of Hoover’s private courses or enjoy one or more of the area’s public facilities, you can experience golf at its best while soaking in the beauty of rolling Alabama terrain and a generous dose of Southern hospita lity.

Rotary Golf Tournament - Please click here.

Regions Charity Classic Golf Tournament Coming Next Month!

The Hoover Chamber of Commerce has participated heavily since 2002 in supporting the Regions Charity Classic Golf Tournament, providing countless volunteers and sponsoring the Business After Hours held during the Pro-Am events of the Golf Tournament.

We have committed to provide volunteers to serve as marshals on the 11th and 12th Holes of the Ross Bridge Robert Trent Jones golf course during the week of the tournament, with special activities during the two Pro-Am events, as well as during the actual 3-day Champions Tour Tournament. The dates this year are Wednesday, May 14 through Sunday, May 18. Over forty volunteers are needed to work some sixty 4-6 hour shifts during that period.

All volunteers will be required to pay $65.00, but the actual value of the volunteer package is over $400.00. Included in this package is the Regions Charity Classic Cap and Golf Shirt; six good-any-day passes for family and friends (worth $90.00); their own badge which serves as a pass for any of the seven days of the event; transportation; and meals for all shifts.

For those who volunteer and work at least three shifts, a free round of golf for a "Volunteer Play Day" at Ross Bridge Robert Trent Jones golf course ($100.00 value) is included. For the first time this year, the round of golf IS TRANSFERABLE to anyone else, if the volunteer is not a golfer themselves!

The Chamber will again host a "Business After Hours" event on Wednesday, May 14, at the AT&T Tent in the Hospitality Village, sponsored by AT&T Yellow Pages, Alabama Power, Colonial Bank, Hoar Construction, Fi-Plan Partners, and The Oaks on Parkwood.

Tickets for the event, including a virtual smorgasbord of food, will be $15.00 each, (advanced ticket purchase required) including one drink ticket. The advance ticket includes admission to the Regions Charity Classic for the day. Brad Bryant, the winner of the tournament the past two years, has attended our event each of the past two years, and considers our event his good luck. You can bet he will be there this year as well!

Again this year, the Chamber Board of Directors has authorized reimbursement of the cost of the volunteer package for those who are not reimbursed by their own employers.

To qualify, volunteers must work as marshals on the Chamber holes of 11 and 12 for any total of three shifts, OR the two Saturday and Sunday shifts. There are two shifts to choose from for the Pro-Am Days of Wednesday and Thursday, but for the professionals-only days of Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, there is one shift for each day.

Anyone interested in working the event as a volunteer may register on the Regions secure website by going to www.regionscharityclassic.com/volunteer-package.php for complete information. This will lead you to a completely secure sign up page where you can enter your credit card information and order additional shirts, hats, etc. if you like. The reimbursement checks, of course, will be sent after the event, May 14-18, 2008.

(Anyone registering as a Hoover Chamber volunteer should designate Hoover Chamber of Commerce in the Club affiliation space on the form.)

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12th Annual Golf Tournament Results

The Twelfth Annual Chamber Golf Classic, held August 27 at Riverchase Country Club was a huge success! With over 120 golfers participating, it was again a completely filled tournament. The two-man, best-ball format is more popular than ever, with one particular change made this year in the individual awards that seemed to make all but one person happy. Instead of a long-drive contest that eliminate all but five or six participants, we had two straightest-drive contests. In a straight-drive contests, every golfer at least has some chance to win.

The overall winners in the First Flight were the team from Brookwood Medical Center, Scott Binder and Eric Indovina, with a Team Score of 61. Second Place winners in the First Flight were from South Hall Climate Controlled Storage, our regular participants, brothers Ronnie and John Blakney, with a score of 66. Also with a 66, were third place winners, playing for Alabama Power Company, were Greg Hart and Shelby County Superintendent of Education Randy Fuller. Ties were determined by scoring backward from the 18th hole scores. In each flight, identical prizes were awarded, with first place winners receiving 10î Portable DVD players; second place winners receiving Whistler Radar Detectors; and third place winners receiving large indoor-outdoor satellite clocks with thermometers and hygrometers to measure the humidity.

In the Second Flight, First Place went to the Alabama Gas Corporation Team of Wayne Cleghorn and Joe Wheeler; Second Place to the Hometown Mortgage Team of Corey Maxwell and Tommy Edwards; and Third Place to the Absolute Mortgage Team of Larry Franklin and Jeffrey Graham. All three winning teams in the Second Flight scored a 75.

In the Third Flight, First Place went to the IKON Office Solutions Team of Shane Gammon; Second Place went to the Long-Lewis Team of Roy Nix and Leon Burch (79 and 80 years old, respectively!); and Third Place to the AT&T Yellow Pages Team of Karl Heckman and Gary McLeandon. Individual Awards went to Robert Holder of The Birmingham News Team for Closest to the Pin on Number 3 with a tee-shot 13 inches from the pin; to Jim Scott of First Southern Services for Closest to the Pin on Number 12 (194 yards) with a tee shot 30î from the pin. Straightest Drive Winners were Buffalo Rock Team Member Mike Green on Number 7, and GeoMet Team Member Neil Walden. Each individual winner won a $50.00 Gift Card donated by Firebirds Wood Fire Grill.

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Volunteers & Sponsors made it happen!
Shown at the Golf Tournament Luncheon are some of our volunteers at the 12th Annual Chamber Golf Tournament. Left to right are Tammy Lamle, Susan Bell, Judy Carter, and Jessica Keller. Right side of table: (foreground) Second Place Winner from the South Hall Storage Team, Ronnie Blakney, Glenn Howard, two unidentified players, and Scott Binder of the Brookwood Medical Center winning team (in yellow).

Shown above are just some of the more than thirty volunteers who gave their time to work the Chamber's 12th Annual Golf Tournament at Riverchase Country Club, and insured that it was the most successful tournament in our Chamber's history -- the largest fund-raiser the Chamber has all year.

Some of the other volunteers at the tournament included Volunteer coordinator LeAnn Sullivan, Chairman Dan Ellis, Suzi and Jeff Crane, Emily Crow, April Dennis, Amin Fazal, Kristy Glover, Phillip Greene, Art Headley, Kelly Bishop, Laura Kelley, Tiffany Levio, Robbie Lewis, Donna Maples, Ginger Martin, Valerie Painter, Kelly Simmons, Jennifer Simpson, Teta Spencer, Rohen, Saveen Sundrani, Karim Budhwani, Kulsum Budhwani, Rahim Budhwani, Jeannie Thrower, Sylvia Wright, Trey Beckett, Susan Bell, Mary Milton, Debbie Rockwell, Terry Barfield, and Angie Johnson of Luncheon Sponsor at&t-Real Yellow Pages, Vanessa Elrod, Kris Boone, Debbie Epperson, Kimberly Rider, and Susan Stone representing Title Sponsor St. Vincent's Health System, Jessica Keller and Susie Collins of the Hoover Chamber staff.

Key sponsors, who contributed or sponsored well above the requirement to just put in players, included of course, our Title Sponsor - St. Vincent's Health System; Platinum Sponsors at&t-Real Yellow Pages (and Luncheon sponsor); Alabama Gas Company; and GeoMet with 33 dozen golf balls donated); Firebirds Restaurant, and Buffalo Rock - donated beverages plus Silver sponsorship package; and Long-Lewis Ford.
Gold Sponsors were Absolute Mortgage, Alabama Power Company, The Birmingham News, Dedicated Personnel, Deltacom, and The Wynfrey Hotel. Silver Sponsors included Ad Specialty Plus, Alacom Finance, Brookwood Medical Center, Compass Bank, Crest Cadillac, Don Drennen Buick, First Southern Services, IKON Office Solutions, Office Depot Business Services Division; First Southern Services; Charter Business, and TurnerBatson Architects. The Bronze sponsors included South Hall Climate Controlled Storage/Alacare Home Health & Hospice, and Union State Bank. Others who were Hole Sponsors: AmeriSuites/Hyatt Place, Fastsigns, Gevity, Jimmy Moore Allstate Agency. Ad Specialty Plus also provided the volunteers their T-Shirts.

Ambassador LeAnn Sullivan of The Birmingham News and Board Member Kathleen of The Wynfrey Hotel co-chaired the volunteer committee, coordinating the 35-40 volunteers, many of whom have volunteered several years. Unfortunately, Kathleen was not able to attend the tournament due to health reasons, but she had done a great deal of work in preparing for the tournament and helped to ensure the success of the tournament once again! This group of volunteers made the whole event come together so that the golfers and sponsors had a very smooth day. Most volunteers were out on the course or preparing for the awards and other events when this photo was taken, and aren't shown.

Thanks to ALL of you!!!

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Chamber Golf Classic Almost Filled
by Dan Ellis, ABSOLUTE Mortgage, LLC, Golf Committee Chair

The Twelfth Annual Hoover Chamber Golf Classic is almost filled, with only a few dozen spots still available! Scheduled for Monday, August 27 at Riverchase Country Club, this is one of the area's fastest growing tournaments -- and one of the best tournaments in the area. Without a doubt, the field will be full before the tournament, with some 128 golfers participating. St. Vincent's Health System is the Title Sponsor of the tournament again this year, with Platinum Sponsorships by AT&T Yellow Pages and GeoMet, and Gold Sponsorships by The Birmingham News, Sam's Club, ABSOLUTE Mortgage, Long-Lewis Ford, and Buffalo Rock. The Breakfast Sponsor is First American Bank.

However, there are still "key sponsorship" slots available, including several Hole Sponsorships, and the Golf Towel Sponsorship. This is a great way to help the chamber and get your company name out in front of a lot of golfers, volunteers, and our most active members.

This is the largest fund raising event for the Hoover Chamber, with a majority of the proceeds going toward the Chamber's Lila Parks Scholarship Fund. This year the Hoover Chamber awarded $10,000.00 in scholarships, plus an additional $10,000.00 through our inaugural Miss Hoover Pageant. For more information, call Bill Powell at the Chamber office at 988-5672.

This tournament is a two-man, modified best ball format, based on actual scores. For example, the best 20 team scores would make up the first flight. First, second, and third place teams in each flight will be awarded prizes. Flights will be divided based on the number of teams participating. This is not a "scramble" format -- handicaps are not considered in tabulation of the winners.

We have the tournament planned for an 8:30 a.m. Shotgun Start, with Continental Breakfast sponsored by First American Bank, and a luncheon sponsored by BellSouth - The Real Yellow Pages. If you want to play --- call Bill Powell to reserve your space. We can email the application form, or download now (PDF)If you wait to process a check before calling, the tournament may be filled, and you may not get to play!

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12th Annual Chamber Golf Classic Coming Monday, August 27
St. Vincent's Hospital is again the Title Sponsor of the Chamber Golf Tournament.
Shown here at the 2006 tournament are two of the winners with their prizes and trophies being presented by Dan Ellis of Absolute Mortgage, again chairing the Golf Committee. The Hoover Chamber specializes in presenting valuable prizes that are not golf-related awards!

The Twelfth Annual Hoover Chamber Golf Classic is getting close! Set for Monday, August 27 at Riverchase Country Club, this tournament is again expected to be a sellout, with some 130 golfers participating. St. Vincent's Hospital is the Title Sponsor of the tournament for the fourth time. AT&T - The Real Yellow Pages will be a Gold Sponsor as well as the Luncheon Sponsor.

Following our tradition, the tournament has rotated among Hoover area private country clubs, with past tournaments held at Inverness, Riverchase, and Hoover Country Clubs. This year, it will again be at Riverchase --- one of the best courses in the area. This is the biggest event of the year for Hoover Chamber members, with scores of members playing, and dozens more volunteering. This also is the major fund raising event of the Chamber, providing over $10,000.00 in scholarships for area students.

Registration and sponsorships are being taken now, with slots filling up fast. Registration for a two-man team is $300.00, or for a foursome (actually two 2-man teams) $600.00. Two Mulligans will be included for each player. The registration includes unlimited soft drinks, snacks and water. Gold, Silver, and Bronze Sponsorships, which include all golf fees as well as hole sponsorships, run $1000.00, $750.00, and $500.00, respectively. Non-golfing members can also participate as either volunteers, as "Hole Sponsors" ($250.00), or as other sponsors.

As in the past, the format will be a "two-man, modified best ballî format. Players play together as a two player team, sharing the better drive off each tee. From there, each player hits their own ball all the way through to sinking their own putt. The lower of the two players' scores on each hole is the team score. This format allows each player to play their own game, rather than being required to hit from someone else's position. It also allows the play to move along at a faster pace. However, as in any tournament, players can expect almost five hours for a complete round.

Teams are flighted into three flights after scores are turned in, and identical awards are given for the top three teams in each of the three flights. Awards are generally not golf-related, and tend to be items that can be used either in workshops, such as shown above, or by the entire family.

A continental breakfast buffet and a smorgasbord lunch buffet are included. For more information on sponsorships or registration, call Bill Powell at 988-5672.
Registration form in PDF format

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Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce member golf courses include:
Public
Ballantrae Golf Club (Pelham) 620-4653 www.ballantraegolf.com <<....more
Highland Park Golf Course (Birmingham) 322-1902 www.honoursgolf.net/highlandpark
Montevallo Golf Club (Montevallo) 665-8057
Robert Trent Jones (Oxmoor) 769-1308 www.rtjgolf.com
Ross Bridge – Robert Trent Jones (Hoover) www.rossbridgeresort.com
Tannehill National Golf Course (Bessemer/McCalla) 477-4653 www.tannehillnationalgolf.com

Private Country/Golf Clubs
Chace Lake Country Club 988-5212 www.chacelake.com
Hoover Country Club 822-0647 www.hoovercountryclub.org
Greystone Golf & Country Club 986-5120 www.greystonecc.com
Riverchase Country Club 988-4140 www.riverchase.com

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Robert Trent Jones Ross Bridge Golf Course
The new Robert Trent Jones Ross Bridge Golf Course, with the $50,000,000+ Ross Bridge Resort and Spa as its centerpiece, is the crown Jewel of the RTJ Golf Trail. Set to open in Summer of 2005, this course offers wide-open fairways and 30,000 square foot greens. Each hole offers five tee boxes, with total length variations from 4,700yards to over 8,200yards! This course is designed for the "Tiger Woods" and improved golf equipment of the future, and has the space and capability to host PGA Major Events such as the U.S. Open and PGA Championship tournaments. The Robert Trent Jones Trail, with courses throughout Alabama, is one of the top golf destinations in the entire world.

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Pelham’s Ballantrae Golf Club — A Golfer’s Paradise!

Ballantrae Golf Club, one of several public courses in the Hoover Chamber, opened in nearby Pelham in June 2004, with Championship-level quality and wide-open fairways. Ballantrae offers both memberships and public golf course packages. The length of the course, located just four miles east of Interstate 65, ranges from 5,000 to over 7,000 yards

Since Ballantrae Golf Club opened its greens to the public on June 1, 2004, many businesses, corporations and individuals have been enjoying
the lush grounds.
The beautiful new Ballantrae Golf Club features an 18 hole championship course designed by Bob Cupp, and the breathtaking scenery comes complimentary with each round. The hills and valleys are framed within a forest to create a picturesque and private setting for the challenging course. With that said, Ballantrae remains true to its original goal, to provide golfers with “World Class Greens - Working Class Fees.”
Head PGA Golf Pro Phillip Wright is no stranger to breaking in new golf clubs. He played a vital role in establishing The Capstone Club in Tuscaloosa, where he remained on staff for sixteen years.
According to Phillip, Ballantrae has exceeded his expectations. “We have had an amazing response thus far, and our membership sales have
surpassed our goals. Many first-time visitors greet me with a ‘wow’ as they enter the club. We’ve heard nothing but positive comments, and the scenery, well, it’s simply breathtaking. I’m just proud to be a part of it all.” Brian Barker and Hal Brown serve with Phillip as assistant golf pros at the club. Ballantrae’s “old-world clubhouse” resembles a Scottish manor house. The first floor features a fully-stocked pro shop, the Fireside Grill and Dining Room, as well as a locker room for club members to use.
The second floor of the clubhouse serves as the new home office for the PGA Dixie Section. Executive Director, Dave Berry, has been with the PGA for seventeen years and says the Ballantrae site is just the scenario they’ve been searching for. “It’s fabulous, a great arrangement for everyone involved,” Dave said. Paul Andrewjeski, formerly GM at the Pelham Civic Complex, will serve as the director of the golf club.
“I look forward to this new challenge with the city, and I want to thank the mayor and council for having such confidence in me. I am grateful to Phillip Wright, our Golf Course Superintendent Gary Bush, and all those on staff for putting forth a great effort in making
this a first-class facility,” Paul said. Ballantrae Golf Club is located off Highway 11, at the end of Weatherly Club Drive.
For membership information or to schedule a tee time, please call
620-Golf (4653).
Make plans now to visit Ballantrae— a golfer’s paradise—and take
advantage of all that the club has to offer.

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