Photo by Edwin Compton/Unsplash
The 2019 Rounds 4 Research fundraising program to support turfgrass research sold 1,465 rounds of golf and yielded nearly $364,000 in its May online auction — an increase of $51,000 over 2018 — making it the most successful in the program’s history. Rounds 4 Research is administered by the Environmental Institute for Golf, the philanthropic organization of GCSAA.
The Carolinas GCSA raised $61,000 and was the leader among the more than 70 GCSAA-affiliated chapters and turfgrass organizations that received proceeds from the auction to support turfgrass research at the local level. The Florida GCSA was next, with nearly $40,000 raised for its chapter.
The top bid was $4,750 for a round of golf for four donated by Whispering Pines Golf Club in Trinity, Texas.
“Rounds 4 Research continues to grow every year, and that is thanks to generous donors and bidders who care about supporting the game they love,” says GCSAA CEO Rhett Evans. “It is wonderful to see all aspects of the game come together to ensure its future.”
The national campaign is supported by a $50,000 donation from The Toro Co. Golf Channel, Golf Advisor and GolfNow provided promotional support. More than 70 golf course management companies donated more than 400 rounds to the auction, among them American Golf, Billy Casper Golf, ClubCorp, CourseCo, Founders Group International, Marriott Golf, the PGA Tour’s TPC Network, and Troon Golf.
Since its launch in 2012, Rounds 4 Research has raised nearly $1.5 million.