Welcome to the RSM Classic!

Some major changes are afoot for The McGladrey Classic this year. First of all, that’s no longer the name of the tournament! The November 16-22 PGA TOUR Event hosted by Davis Love III is now called The RSM Classic. In October, McGladrey LLP united with fellow firms in their global

network, RSM International, under the common brand name RSM. The adoption of the unified brand under the RSM name reinforces their global network’s position as the first-choice advisor to middle market leaders globally. Along with the rebranding, The McGladrey Classic became The RSM Classic and adopted a new logo, so don’t worry when you see signs with the new name popping up around the island, it’s the same tournament we know and love! 

Another significant change is that competitive rounds will be held on both the Plantation and Seaside Courses at Sea Island on Thursday and Friday. This expansion allows for a larger playing field of 156 players, with the top 70 players (plus ties) making the cut to continue play at Seaside on the weekend. 

The “Under the Oaks” concert presented by the Southeast Georgia Health System returns at a new venue and on a new day. Country music superstar Martina McBride will make her first visit to Southeast Georgia to perform on Saturday, November 21 at 7:00 p.m. at McKinnon St. Simons Island Airport.

If you aren’t familiar with McBride, she grew up singing country music in rural Kansas, accompanied by her father’s band. She and her husband, John, moved to Nashville in 1990, where he became the city’s most successful and respected recording studio owner, and she became a country star.  To date, she has had 20 Top 10 hits, six No. 1 smashes and has sold 18 million albums. She released “Everlasting,” her twelfth studio album, last year. McBride has been nominated for 14 Grammy Awards, and was named Female Vocalist of the Year by the Country Music Association four years. The Academy of Country Music has presented her with its Top Female honor three times.

Like Tournament Host Davis Love III, McBride is dedicated to giving back. Her global community service organization, Team Martina, is a platform for thousands of country music fans interested in volunteering and helping the world alongside her. The team does volunteer projects in different towns on Martina's tour, fulfilling a need in the community before the show. Martina and her fans have raised more than $50,000 to establish the Martina McBride Music Education Program which provides a therapeutic music program for needy children at Covenant House La Alianza orphanage.

“We’re thrilled to bring Martina to southeast Georgia for the first time to perform,” said Tournament Director Scott Reid. “It’s going to be a fantastic concert for what we believe will be a sell-out crowd.” Get your tickets now to ensure you have a seat for what promises to be an epic night of great music. Two ticket options are available for the concert: a Saturday golf/concert combination ticket for $70, and a concert only for $45. 

On Tuesday, November 17, Elegant Island Living is excited to present with fellow sponsor,

Krispy Kreme (mmmm, just saying it makes us hungry) the Wiffle Ball Classic featuring PGA TOUR Players and Wives and students from Altama Elementary School in Brunswick. While this is a returning event, there will be expanded activities, more PGA TOUR Players and Wives and more students participating in what is sure to be a fun-filled afternoon and evening at the Frederica Academy Baseball Field. For the first time, there will be carnival games, face painting, a photo booth, music, food concessions (other than those delicious donuts), raffles and giveaways in addition to the Wiffle Ball competition. Festivities will begin at 3:00 p.m. with the players taking to the diamond at 5:00 p.m. All proceeds benefit the Blessings in a Backpack program at Altama Elementary, a program in which participating children receive a backpack filled with non-perishable, nutritious foods every Friday. This ensures that the children receive proper nourishment over the weekend, permitting them to come to school alert and ready to learn, instead of hungry and distracted. There is no admission fee for the event, so c’mon out and root for the ladies to show up their competitive PGA TOUR husbands.

Each year at tournament, PGA TOUR pros team up with Special Olympics athletes and Boys and Girls Club participants for a Charity Putting Challenge played on an obstacle course designed by the Sea Island Golf Performance Center. Executives from title sponsor keep track of scores for each team.

 The Putting Challenge is consistently rated one of the best interactive charity events on TOUR. This year the event takes place at the Performance Center Practice Putting Green on Wednesday, November 18, at 4:00 p.m. Earlier in the day, the Yamaha Pro-Am Event will be held for the first time on both Seaside and Plantation Courses. 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. The RSM Classic is proud that they signed on this year as the sponsor of the 2015 Pro-Am.

This year there will be a new site on the Seaside Court for spectators to hang out. Upgrade your daily ticket (on-site) with a $20 donation to the Davis Love Foundation and gain access to the new Mellow Mushroom Chill Club located between the 16th and 17th holes on the Seaside Course. Included with your donation is one free slice of pizza and one Blue Moon beer (or your choice of non-alcoholic beverage) provided by Mellow Mushroom.  For a quick lift out to the Chill Club, there will be a Mellow shuttle located near the 9th green. It will be the perfect place to chill with friends and take in some great golf.

Something else new is the Friends of the Foundation fundraiser for local charities. This is different from the Birdies Fore Love program because there’s no requirement to guess a number of birdies in the tournament; instead, it’s a simple raffle for the chance to win a 2015 Buick Verano courtesy of Nalley Automotive of Brunswick. Approximately 30 not-for-profit organizations

whose missions align with the Davis Love Foundation’s focus on helping children and families in need were chosen as “Friends of the Foundation” and are selling the raffle tickets at $20 each. The participating charities receive 100% of the raffle ticket sales, and the Davis Love Foundation will also disburse $50,000 to them based upon their percentage of ticket sales. For a full list of participating charities, visit mcgladreyclassic.com. The Buick Verano will be awarded during Tournament Week, so get your raffle tickets today from your favorite local charity to support a cause in which you believe and you might just get lucky!

RSM Classic at a Glance:

Monday, November 16 – Community Day and Youth Day. Gates open at 10:00 a.m. and the grounds are open to the public free of charge. Youth Day special activities take place from 2:00-4:00 p.m. and are sponsored by the Southeast Georgia Health System.

Tuesday. November 17 – Tournament grounds are closed to the general public. Wiffle Ball Class featuring PGA TOUR Players and Wives, presented by Krispy Kreme and Elegant Island Living takes place at Frederica Academy Baseball Field. Gates open at 3:00 p.m. for family activities, Wiffle Ball game begins at 5:00 p.m.

Wednesday, November 18 – Gates open at 8:00 a.m. for the Yamaha Pro-Am Event at Seaside and Plantation Courses. Charity Putting Event featuring PGA TOUR Players takes place at the Sea Island Golf Performance Center Practice Putting Green at 4:00 p.m.

Thursday, November 19 and Friday, November 20 – Rounds 1 & 2 of The RSM Classic. Gates open at 8:00 a.m. and hospitality venues open at 10:00 a.m.

Saturday, November 21 – Round 3 of the RSM Classic and Military Appreciation Day. Gates open at 8:00 a.m. and hospitality venues open at 10:00 a.m. Special activities to be announced. Live Under the Oaks Concert featuring Martina McBride and presented by Southeast Georgia Health System takes place at McKinnon/St. Simons Aiport at 7:00 p.m.

Sunday, November 22 – Final Round of The RSM Classic. Gates open at 8:00 a.m. and hospitality venues open at 10:00 a.m. Trophy presentation on 18th Green immediately following completion of play.

Tickets available for all events at mcgladreyclassic.com and we will see you on the links!