Golf Classic

The Golf Classic enables us to feed neighbors in need throughout Northeast Tennessee by distributing food through our partner agencies and direct service programs targeted at helping our more vulnerable populations

We can’t wait to see you!

For Questions or to Sign Up, Contact Kelsi at Specialevents@netfoodbank.org

Golf and Giving Back: Join Us in Solving Hunger in Northeast TN

As Arnold Palmer famously said, “Golf is deceptively simple and endlessly complicated; it satisfies the soul and frustrates the intellect.” As an avid golfer who has been playing most of my life, I can certainly attest to the truth of those words. Golf is a game that I love in all its aspects – playing it, watching it, reading about it, and talking about it. But what I love most about golf is the opportunity it gives me to play with my wife, Kathy, family, and friends and create cherished memories on the course.

I’ll admit I’ve never been a stellar golfer. My Dad got me started, I’ve never had a formal lesson, and my swing may be unconventional, but it’s mine, and I’m proud of it. At 68 years young, I currently play to about a ten handicap, and my goal is to keep playing until I’m 98, even if my handicap goes up to 30 by then. I often joke that I hope they have golf in heaven because I can’t imagine my life without it!

But as much as I love golf, I also know that it can sometimes be a maddening game, just as Arnold Palmer pointed out. The ups and downs, the good shots and the bad ones, the moments of triumph and the moments of frustration are all part of the game. I’ve had my fair share of bad shots and disappointing rounds, but I’ve learned to remind myself that there’s always the next shot, the next hole, and the next round.

And after the round, there is often the “19th hole” in some form or fashion where you find your next meal! Do you really wonder about your next meal? Probably not, and that leads me to ask you to support the work of Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee through their Annual Golf Classic. In Northeast TN, there are approximately 45,000 people who struggle with food insecurity, unsure if they will have enough to eat tonight. That’s equivalent to telling every person living in Bristol, TN/VA, they won’t have a meal. It’s a sobering thought.

As a believer in Matthew 25:35 – “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink.” – I am determined to make a difference in addressing the issue of hunger in my community. You, too, can help feed the hungry and join us on our path to solving the hunger problem in Northeast TN. I invite you and your friends to play in our annual golf classic on June 5 at the Blackthorn Club in Johnson City. Bring your game your way! It will be a golf day that perhaps will “madden” you for a moment but will fulfill your soul more than most rounds, knowing you are helping provide some hungry child their next meal that day!”

So, please mark your calendars for June 5 and join us at the Blackthorn Club for a day of golf that goes beyond the fairways.

Ray Feagins, President

Second Harvest Board of Directors