Golden Isles Convention & Visitors Bureau Extends Community Partnership With PGA TOUR's McGladrey Classic

BRUNSWICK, Ga., June 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- After its resoundingly successful debut last fall, the PGA TOUR's McGladrey Classic already is being heralded as the latest Golden Isles tradition.

Adding support for the tournament that longtime PGA TOUR member and Sea Island resident Davis Love III has brought to his back yard, the Golden Isles Convention & Visitors Bureau and The McGladrey Classic have announced a community partnership for the 2011 event, which takes place Oct. 10-16 on Sea Island Golf Club's Seaside course, on St. Simons Island.

"Our community partnership with The McGladrey Classic will help showcase the Golden Isles across the nation, through this world-class golf tournament," said Scott McQuade, chief executive officer, Golden Isles Convention & Visitors Bureau.

"It's fabulous that a professional sporting event of this caliber has been brought to the Golden Isles," McQuade said. "Though just in its second year, The McGladrey Classic has all the promise of becoming a mainstay, premier tournament on the PGA TOUR. It can draw outstanding attention to the beauty of the Golden Isles and all we have to offer to visitors from throughout the country and around the world. We're extremely grateful to so many who made this happen – including, first and foremost, the Love family."

The Golden Isles Convention & Visitors Bureau was a partner of the inaugural McGladrey Classic. This year's renewed community partnership helps support the overall staging of the tournament by the host organization, the Davis Love Foundation. Proceeds from the 2011 McGladrey Classic will benefit designated charities of the Davis Love Foundation including Special Olympics and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeast Georgia.

The McGladrey Classic in 2010 became a new addition to the PGA TOUR's Fall Series. Heath Slocum captured the first championship on the Seaside links course by one stroke, thanks to a dramatic 60-foot birdie putt on the 16th hole of the final round.

Renowned for their superior golf courses, instructional facilities and coaching, the Golden Isles are home to several PGA TOUR players, among them Love (the chairman of the McGladrey Classic and 2012 Ryder Cup Captain), Zach Johnson, Jonathan Byrd and Matt Kuchar. The area boasts 180 holes created by some of the game's most-gifted architects – including the venerable Seaside course – one of Golf Digest's top 100 U.S. courses.

A truly special location for residents and visitors, the Golden Isles provide an idyllic backdrop for The McGladrey Classic, with shell-strewn beaches, winding waterways, acres of golden marsh grasses and limitless activities featuring nature as it was intended. Renowned for its fresh coastal cuisine and warm Southern hospitality, the area's culture and attractions will be front-and-center during tournament week.

Just steps away from the golf club gates, area drawing cards include miles of sun-drenched beaches, historic sites and museums, fishing and water sports, nature programs and quaint specialty shops and galleries. Local restaurants offer an abundance of options, from fine dining to casual, waterfront meals. Accommodations range from convenient lodging along nearby Interstate 95 and bed-and-breakfast inns on the mainland to a world-class island resort, private island retreats, historic seaside and riverfront hotels, golf and tennis resorts, rental cottages and campgrounds.

"The fan turnout in 2010 proved the Golden Isles is the perfect setting for this event," said Love, who had long dreamed of bringing the PGA TOUR to his backyard. "We're excited about hosting The McGladrey Classic for visitors and for this community, which has been very supportive of my career and has done so much for my family since we moved here more than 30 years ago. I am honored to have the Golden Isles Convention & Visitors Bureau as our community partner. Together, we can share this spectacular region with thousands of spectators and their families, as well as the pros who will be competing here."

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeast Georgia, one of the Love Foundation charitable beneficiaries of the tournament, is dedicated to help build a better future for children and their families who are at risk of poor educational, economic, social and health outcomes. Special Olympics is the official golf platform charity of title sponsor McGladrey, one of the nation's leading assurance, tax and business consulting firms.

Fans seeking to extend the fun beyond the golf course during the tournament should visit the Golden Isles Facebook page for special tournament opportunities, frequent updates, and unique ways to enjoy the area. For more information about the McGladrey Classic and to purchase tickets, please visit www.mcgladreyclassic.com.

About the Golden Isles

Midway between Savannah, Ga., and Jacksonville, Fla., lie the Golden Isles, where vast marshlands, winding rivers, nature and sports diversions, and miles of sun-drenched beaches beckon visitors and residents alike. Amid the lush natural beauty that has made this unspoiled corner of Georgia's Colonial Coast so legendary, 180 holes of golf were created by some of the game's most-gifted architects, providing challenges for both the amateur and the accomplished professional. Fishing, water sports, tennis courts, horseback trails and birding locales appeal to nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. And, with moderate temperatures, the unspoiled beauty of the Golden Isles can be enjoyed throughout the year.

SOURCE Golden Isles Convention & Visitors Bureau