Live + Work in Maine golf tourney aims to top last year's results, benefit hospital

File PHOTO / WILLIAM HALL The Live + Work in Maine Open returns in June with a $135,000 fundraising goal for the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital. Here, fans at last year’s open follow the players along the 7,326-yard golf course in Falmouth.

Write a Comment

By Staff

Last summer, Maine hosted its first pro golf tournament in nearly 30 years, drawing over 150 players, nearly 3,000 spectators and a host of corporate sponsors. It also pulled in $100,000 for a good cause and generated an estimated $8 million in economic impact on southern Maine.

Now the Live + Work in Maine Open hopes to replicate those results when it returns the week of June 20-26 to the Falmouth Country Club, with new experiences and a $135,000 fundraising goal to support the tournament’s charitable beneficiary.

For the second year, the tournament’s beneficiary will be the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital, the state’s only full-service children’s hospital, located at Maine Medical Center in Portland.

The open, part of the Professional Golfers Association’s Korn Ferry Tour, has registered 156 players from around the world, competing for a $750,000 purse. That's up from $600,000 last year.

"The Live and Work in Maine Open is committed to driving significant charitable, community, workforce and economic impact to our region,” Brian Corcoran, CEO of Shamrock Sports & Entertainment, the marketing and management organization for the tournament and related special events, said in a news release.

Corporate partners are led by Bangor Savings Bank and MaineHealth. Over 300 volunteers have signed on to help run the tournament.

“We are grateful to all involved with the Live + Work in Maine Open for their generous commitment to our mission,” said MaineHealth CEO Dr. Andrew Mueller.

Bob Montgomery-Rice, president and CEO of Bangor Savings Bank, said he encourages other business leaders, golf enthusiasts and volunteers to sign on.

“This event will once again help make a lasting community impact,” he said.

Volunteer registration opens April 18. Volunteer opportunities are diverse and include jobs as marshals, scorers, standard bearers and caddies. Volunteers will receive perks including golf shirts, meals, two full tournament passes, free parking and a volunteer appreciation party.

Shamrock is partnering with HNS, an event operations vendor for PGA Tour events, to add several new attractions throughout the tournament week. They include the Pro Am Club, a VIP experience for Pro-Am participants with a private bar at the 18th-green viewing area, and a new Fairway Lounge, which aims to create a party atmosphere as players hit their approach shots to the final hole.

There will also be a Bites and Brews session pairing offerings by local chefs and craft brewers each afternoon of the tournament. For more information, click here.

The Korn Ferry Tour is the steppingstone series of tournaments for the PGA Tour, the premier men’s circuit in professional golf.