RSM Classic Swings Into Action

It’s time for the island to be in the spotlight again – but on the Golf Channel instead of the Weather Channel this time around! It will be the gorgeous grounds of Sea Island Golf Club’s Seaside and Plantation Courses on St. Simons Island and the PGA TOUR pros playing them during The RSM Classic that will be the focus of national attention. The RSM Classic is an Official PGA TOUR FedExCup Event that will be held November 14-20. The tournament is hosted by the Davis Love Foundation, which was established by PGA TOUR pro golfer Davis Love III for the purpose of contributing to the wellbeing and progress of society by supporting both national and community-based programs that focus on children and their families. The RSM Classic is named for title sponsor RSM US LLP (formerly McGladrey LLP), the leading provider of audit, tax and consulting services focused on the middle market, with more than 9,000 people in 86 offices nationwide.

The week begins when tournament grounds open to the public free of charge Monday, November 14, for Community Day. PGA TOUR Players will be playing practice rounds all day. There is also a Monday Pro-Am Event on Seaside Course. And it’s Youth Day too! There will be special activities for kids sponsored by Southeast Georgia Health System from 2:00-4:00 p.m.

On Tuesday, November 15, the tournament grounds are closed to the general public, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some fantastic RSM Classic related events going on! The Wiffle Ball Classic, presented by Krispy Kreme featuring PGA TOUR Players and Wives will take place at Frederica Academy’s Baseball Field at 5:00 p.m. This annual event that benefits Blessings in a Backpack Glynn is fun for the whole family! You’ll want to come out early because beginning at 3:00 p.m. Elegant Island Living and Blessings in a Backpack will be hosting a mini-carnival next to the ballfield with activities for the kids, face-painting, food vendors, and more. Everyone is welcome and there’s no charge for admission! Stay to watch the game and see if the Tour Wives take home the victory once again or if their pro husbands can snatch away a win this year.  

That same evening at 5:00 p.m. the St. Simons Island Rotary hosts the 6th Annual Meet the Pros event at the Mizner Ballroom at The Cloister. Meet the Pros gives attendees a rare opportunity to get up close-and-personal with participating RSM Tournament Pros during an upscale cocktail and heavy hors d’oeuvres event with silent auction and exclusive personal interviews with PGA TOUR pros by ESPN Golf commentator Rich Styles. Platinum Sponsor of the event is Nalley Auto of Brunswick, with Gold Sponsor Marsh’s Edge, and Bronze Sponsors International Auto Processing, Inc., McGinty Gordon, and Sea Palms Coastal Realty. All proceeds from the event benefit more than 15 children’s charities in the Golden Isles Community supported by St. Simons Island Rotary. Tickets are just $65 per person and include a complimentary Any Day Pass to the RSM Classic. Tickets can be purchased at ssirotary.org.

On Wednesday, November 16, the gates will open at approximately 7:00 a.m. and the Yamaha Pro-Am Event will take place. The Yamaha Golf-Car Company is sponsoring the 2016 Pro-Am at The RSM Classic. The Pro-Am will be played on both the Plantation and Seaside courses at Sea Island Golf Club. The courses are the same that the professional golfers will play competitive rounds on during The RSM Classic.

The Yamaha Golf-Car Company has been investing in grassroots programs designed to support and grow the game of golf through PGA of America Sectional events, the Web.com Tour, as well as a partnership with the Executive Women’s Golf Association. Armed with a rich pedigree of quality and engineering, Yamaha’s fleet, utility and personal transportation cars are enjoying a fast growing following throughout the world both on and off the golf course.

“Like most people, I’ve always been familiar with Yamaha’s high performance products within the Motorcycle, ATV, Boat and Marine industries,” said Tournament Host Davis Love III, 21-time PGA TOUR winner and Captain of the 2016 U.S. Ryder Cup Team.  “Now, having spent a lot of time with their golf division, it’s easy to see that their Golf Car and Utility Car products have carried on that same high quality, reliability and high-performance position. Yamaha is an ideal fit for The RSM Classic and I’m excited to have their support of our event for the second year.” The Pro-Am includes a Tuesday night Pairings Party hosted by Love and his wife, Robin. The event has become an integral part of The RSM Classic and one of the premier Pro-Am events on the PGA TOUR.

“We are proud to support the Davis Love Foundation and be a part of the seventh annual RSM Classic. This is a great opportunity for us to support children and family charities and build relationships with our customers,” said Tom McDonald, President of the Yamaha Golf-Car Company.

At 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, there will be a Charity Putting Event featuring PGA TOUR Players at the Sea Island Golf Performance Center Practice Putting Green. Come cheer on your favorite players!

Round 1 of tournament play will begin on Thursday, November 17 on Seaside and Plantation Courses, with tee times to be determined. Gates open at approximately 8:00 a.m. and all hospitality venues open at 10:00 a.m. It is also Chamber of Commerce Day with a Mixer featuring Live Music and Happy Hour immediately following the completion of play.

Friday, November 18, will bring Round 2 of play on Seaside and Plantation Courses with tee times to be determined. Gates will open at approximately 8:00 a.m. and hospitality venues will be open at 10:00 a.m.

Later that evening, The RSM Classic partners with the St. Simons Island Food + Spirits Festival for a new event that will help introduce those coming out to the tournament to the bountiful cuisine of our island: “A Taste of the Golden Isles.” This new upscale and fun culinary event will take place from 6:00-9:00 p.m. in St. Simons Island’s Pier Village. Attendees can enjoy live music and small plate tasting stations from the Golden Isles’ top chefs and restaurants while mingling with PGA TOUR Professionals and other celebrity guests. There will also be an assortment of exceptional wines, spirits and beers featured.

“We are thrilled to partner with the St. Simons Island Food + Spirits Festival to bring this fun new event to the Golden Isles during The RSM Classic,” stated Tournament Director Scott Reid.  “A Taste of the Golden Isles will showcase the best of Golden Isles’ cuisine, great beverages, and live music for locals and visitors to enjoy on Friday evening after the tournament competition.”

This event will be limited to 400 guests and you must be 21 years or older to attend. Tickets are available on the RSM Classic website and options include a $45 Taste Event ticket, or a special $55 combo ticket which includes a Good Any Day Ticket to The RSM Classic in addition to the Taste Event ticket. Both ticket options include all food and beverages in the Main Tasting Tent at the Taste of the Golden Isles Event. The Combo Ticket also includes a Private VIP Meet & Greet reception from 5:00-6:00 p.m. Proceeds from the Taste of the Golden Isles Event will benefit the Hospice of the Golden Isles.

Saturday, November 19, is Military Appreciation Day. Gates will open at approximately 8:00 a.m. and all hospitality venues open at 10:00 a.m. Tee times for Round 3 of the tournament on the Seaside Course will be announced. There will be a Folds of Honor Hole-In-One Challenge located near the main entrance. US servicemen and women and veterans should be aware that The RSM Classic supports the men and women who serve and have served in the armed forces and provides special hospitality tent access and ticket pricing. Active duty, military reserve, National Guard members, and military retirees may receive up to two complimentary tickets for ANY day of The RSM Classic, Thursday – Sunday. Veterans may purchase up to two discounted tickets ($20 each) for each day of The RSM Classic, Thursday – Sunday. All military can purchase up to two general lawn access tickets to the Cole Swindell concert Saturday night at a discounted price. Service must be verified at the time of purchase online.

Saturday evening, America’s fast-rising country star Cole Swindell will be taking the stage at McKinnon Airport on St. Simons Island. Since The RSM Classic Concert Event sponsored by Southeast Georgia Health System began in 2011, the music industry superstars it has brought to the island have included Darius Rucker, Martina McBride, Toby Keith, and Gary Allan. Swindell, a Georgia native who attended Georgia Southern, recently earned his fifth consecutive No. 1 single with “You Should Be Here.” Other hits under Swindell’s belt include “Ain’t Worth the Whiskey” and “Hope You Get Lonely Tonight,” And “Let Me See Ya Girl.” Swindell says, “Being from Georgia, going to college here, and loving golf, I couldn’t be more excited to be performing at this event. It’s such a cool venue and for a special cause. You should be here.” Tickets can be purchased as part of the weekly ticket booklet or individually. Individual tickets are limited, so get yours today if you haven’t already! Parking for the concert will be located at McKinnon/St. Simons Island Airport using the Skylane Road entrance. You will be able to park your vehicle and walk to the General Lawn Area.

The Final Round of The RSM Classic takes place on the Seaside Course Sunday, November 20, with tee times to be announced. Gates open at approximately 8:00 a.m. and all hospitality venues open at 10:00 a.m. The Trophy Presentation takes place on the 18th green immediately following the completion of play.

In conjunction with The RSM Classic, the 2016 Friends of the Foundation, a charity program administered by the Davis Love Foundation to benefit area nonprofits, is currently underway. The program helps charities raise money by selling $20 raffle tickets for the chance to win a new 2016 Buick Verano courtesy of Nalley Automotive of Brunswick. One hundred percent of the money collected through the raffle is distributed back to the participating charities. “The program is a great complement to the charitable mission of the Davis Love Foundation and The RSM Classic,” said Scott Reid, Tournament Director.  “Last year was the inaugural year of the program, and the thirty participating charities received more than $142,000.  In addition to the dollars raised by the charities, the Davis Love Foundation is funding a $50,000 Bonus Pool that will be distributed based on raffle ticket sales performance.” Participating charities include: 1Boy4Change, Alzheimer’s Association of Coastal Georgia, American Cancer Society, America’s Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia, Blessings in a Backpack Inc – Altama Elementary, Boys & Girls Club of Southeast Georgia Inc., brain Reconnect, Casa Glynn, Inc., Castaways Pet Rescue, Inc., Children in Action Sports Club, Inc., Communities in Schools of Glynn County, Inc., The First Tee of the Golden Isles, Gathering Place, Inc., Georgia Junior Golf Foundation, Inc., Girls on the Run of Coastal GA, Girls on the Run of the Golden Isles, Glynn Community Crisis Center, Glynn County Sports Hall of Fame, Golden Isles Arts & Humanities Association, Inc., Habitat for Humanity of Glynn County, Heather House of Glynn, Inc., Hope House, Inc., Hospice of the Golden Isles Inc., Ronald McDonald House Charities, Safe Harbor Children’s Center Inc., SOAR (Social Opportunities & Active Recreation), Special Olympics Coastal Georgia, St. Francis Xavier Catholic School, Saint Simons Christian School, United Way of Coastal Georgia, Inc. Charities have until Friday, November 11 to sell raffle tickets and raise money for their organizations. The drawing for the 2016 Buick Verano will take place on Saturday, November 19 during The RSM Classic. Purchase a ticket from your favorite charity to support their mission and for your chance to win!

Additionally, RSM’s Birdies Fore Love giving platform tied to the RSM Classic is now in its third year. Each year, RSM makes a difference for at-risk youth through Birdies Fore Love thanks to stellar participation from its partners, principals and employees, gifts from clients and friends of the firm, and a generous match provided by the RSM US Foundation. Through Birdies Fore Love, RSM offices commit to raising funds for a local charity that aligns with the missions of the RSM US Foundation and Davis Love Foundation. In 2015, the program more than doubled the prior year’s giving, raising almost $1.3 million for 65 charities in the local communities where RSM’s employees live and work. The strong fundraising through Birdies Fore Love coupled with proceeds from the tournament brought the 2015 total donation to over $2 million and the program total to more than $4.8 million. If you’d like to help at-risk youth in the areas of education, hunger, housing or health, please consider donating to Birdies Fore Love.

Tickets to The RSM Classic are currently available for purchase via the website. For $125, you can buy a Weekly Ticket Booklet that includes one ticket for each day of the Tournament, Wednesday through Sunday, and General Admission to the Concert Event on Saturday night. A Good Any Day Grounds Ticket grants you access to the tournament any one day Thursday through Sunday and costs $35. General Admission one day tickets Thursday through Sunday are $30. A Wednesday General Admission ticket is $20. Youth under age 17 are admitted free of charge with an adult ticket holder any day. Saturday’s General Admission ticket does not include access to the Cole Swindell concert that evening. Concert tickets are $35 for General Admission. A Concert/Tournament Combination Ticket is available for $60. Youth (17 and under) concert tickets are $25.

For more details on any of the events, hospitality, ticket pricing and purchase, visit the website at rsmclassic. For any additional assistance, please call the Tournament Office at 912.634.3266.