Fort Smith, AR – May 1, 2023 – The United Way of Fort Smith Area (UWFSA) is partnering with the All Pro Tour (APT) for a fourth consecutive year to bring pro golf to Fort Smith. The 4th annual United Way Classic, presented by Cherokee Casino & Hotel Roland, will be held June 5th – 10th, 2023, at Hardscrabble Country Club in Fort Smith. The tournament will feature over 150 PGA hopefuls as they compete for the grand prize of $25,000.
The week will be packed full of events. A Youth Clinic will be held on Monday, June 5th, a Pro-Am on Tuesday, June 6th, and a Party on the Patio at Hardscrabble on Friday, June 9th. The pro rounds will take place Wednesday through Saturday, with the trophy and check presentation on Saturday afternoon, June 10th.
“We are excited to host over 150 professional golfers from the APT at this year’s fourth annual United Way Classic”, said Shea Foldvary, President and CEO of UWFSA. Foldvary added, “Since the inaugural tournament in 2020, the United Way Classic has raised $233,000 for United Way partner agencies and provided an economic impact of over 1.5 million dollars to our area. This incredible total would not be possible without our sponsors, participating agencies, APT Tour staff and players, volunteers, and Hardscrabble Country Club. Their support is vital to the success of the United Way Classic each year.”
“Fort Smith and the golf community have embraced the All Pro Tour and the United Way Classic. The support is felt by the players and seen in the funds raised for the United Way of Fort Smith Area. Hardscrabble is one of the best facilities we play each season and is certainly one of the best golf courses in the state. The United Way Classic has become the tournament of choice for the pros.'”, said Gary DeSerrano, All Pro Tour President.
This year’s event will be open to the public. It is a free, non-ticketed event, and spectators are encouraged! The Pro-Am event is a fun opportunity to improve your game, play with a Pro, and improve your network. Teams of four will be paired with a Pro from the All Pro Tour. There will be a morning and afternoon flight with a shotgun start at 7:15 am and 1 pm. The Youth Clinic is FREE and open to youth in 1st – 12th grades. Registration will be limited to the first 100 on a first-come, first-served basis. Parents or guardians may attend and must stay with the child.
United Way is looking for people familiar with the game of golf to help contribute time and energy during these tournament rounds. Volunteers are critical in helping conduct a smooth and successful tournament week. Registration for Volunteers, the Pro-Am, and the Youth Clinic can be made online at unitedwayfortsmith.org.
This annual charity event supports participating United Way agencies. In addition to presenting sponsor Cherokee Casino & Hotel Roland, the major sponsors for this charity event are Arvest Bank, OG&E, First National Bank of Fort Smith, Arkansas Colleges of Health Education, Baptist Health, University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, Jimmy Bell Real Estate, Rheem, Harry Robinson, Buick GMC, Firstar Bank, Strategic Realty, SERVPRO, First Security Bank, Simmons Foods, ABB, City of Fort Smith, ArcBest, Cox Business and Montessori School of Fort Smith.
For more information, contact the United Way office at 479-782-1311 or mlittle@unitedwayfortsmith.org.