Annual Hospital Auxiliary Golf Tournament
About the Tournament
- The longest standing and most prestigious charity golf event on Hilton Head Island
- Presented by The Hospital Auxiliary with a rich history of supporting our local communities
- Proceeds used to fund nursing scholarships and grow the number of health care professionals in our community
- Reached a milestone level of over $1,000,000 in net revenue over its 37-year history
- Provides additional funding for Auxiliary Caring Touch Program (A.C.T.) and Women’s Health
The Hospital Auxiliary has enjoyed a long-standing relationship with Harbour Town Golf Links and the Wexford Golf Club, the two premier courses on the island. Golfers enjoy 18 holes at each course over the two-day period, along with a putting contest, hole-in one, and closest-to-the-hole competition, plus box lunches and beverages each day and an awards ceremony at the end of the second day in the Champions Ballroom in the Harbour Town Golf Links Clubhouse. Our tournament is traditionally held each year on the Monday and Tuesday following Thanksgiving, but since Thanksgiving 2024 is very late in November , it’s being held a bit earlier this year.
The dates for the 38th Annual Hospital Auxiliary Invitational Golf Tournament
are Monday, November 18 and Tuesday, November 19, 2024.
Our Legacy
A primary source of revenue to fund the Hospital Auxiliary programs is our annual golf tournament, the longest running local charity golf tournament on the island. The tournament was started as an 18-hole tournament at Harbour Town in 1986 by Max Stein. Max expanded the event to 36 holes in 1988 and continued to chair it until he was 91 years old. Having Harbour Town as the anchor course for a charity event tournament was highly unusual but it was Max’s determination, hard work and amazing personality that was responsible for Harbour Town’s loyalty to our cause. Max showed that same loyalty to his golfers and gave preference to players who had played in the tournament previously—a rule that is maintained to this day.
Max passed the leadership of the tournament on to Lew Wessel in 2007. Lew had been playing in the event for five years and jumped at the chance to lead it forward. With his financial background and people skills, Lew initiated a sponsor program at various levels which substantially increased the bottom profit line. He also made changes and improvements to the overall experience with the addition of Wexford Golf Club as a permanent second course and setting up an awards’ ceremony at the end of the two days of golf.
In 2017, Bob Elliott, a retired senior marketing executive from Dow Chemical and member at Belfair, took over the reins as Tournament Director. Through his tireless perseverance, creativity, dedication and attention to detail, Bob has made the tournament more successful each year and taken it to the next level. His appreciation and loyalty to our golfers and sponsors is evident in every aspect of the tournament. He and his committee run a tournament that continues to have a sellout field of 260 every year because it combines two days of outstanding golf at a great price and at the best courses with a spirited, fun atmosphere.
Our Goal
Our initial goal was to provide nursing scholarships to attract new students and help to address the shortage of nurses in the Lowcountry. Over the years, we were able to extend our reach and support to the community. In 2022, the Committee reached its goal of achieving $1.0 million in total contributions to the Hospital Auxiliary from the golf tournament over its 37 years. With the support of our sponsors and donors we continue to increase the impact we have on people’s lives in our local communities. One of the major areas of focus is to provide nursing scholarships to students in an effort to reduce the tremendous shortfall which exists in our local communities. Proceeds from the tournament will also be awarded in scholarships to qualified children of hospital volunteers and employees who pursue degrees in the health care field. We also support two additional Hospital Auxiliary Programs—Women’s Health and Auxiliary Caring Touch.
Heritage Classic Foundation Partnership
The Hospital Auxiliary has recently been approved as a registered Charity of the Heritage Classic Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, dedicated to supporting educational and charitable initiatives to enhance quality of life and economic vitality by hosting the RBC Heritage presented by Boeing, South Carolina’s only PGA tour golf tournament.
The primary source of funds for the Auxiliary has been our annual golf tournament and our hospital gift shops. “Birdies for Charity” and “Champions Fore Charity” provide additional fundraising mechanisms that are fun, fast and easy—and the Heritage Classic Foundation will contribute an extra 10% on top of your donation.
Our Tournament Committee
Tournament Director: Bob Elliott
Tournament Committee: Joe Baker, Chris Olsen, Rob Patterson, Brian Mallory, Dee Judge, Doug Oberg
Our Sponsors
We are very proud and appreciative of our golf tournament sponsors. They help us achieve our Mission of delivering a superior event for the players, while achieving our fundraising objectives. When you have the need for their products and/or services, we ask that you give them strong consideration. Our sponsors share a common bond, demonstrating a commitment to our community by supporting the Hospital Auxiliary and its Mission.
Our tournament title sponsor is Christopher Corkern, president of May River Investments, Ltd. and Financial Planner, The Prudential Insurance Company of America. As a Financial Planner Chris was recognized in a recent issue of Forbes Magazine as one of the top professionals in his area of practice in the United States. He joined Prudential in 1998 and is a member of Chairman’s Council, recognized as a top 20 advisor from over 4,000 in the U.S., Lifetime Member of the Million Dollar Round Table, Prudential Annuities Master Council and member of the Life Concierge program. Chris has been a longtime supporter and sponsor of our tournament for 16 years.
Thank you to our 2023 Sponsors!
Here are our 2024 Sponsorship Opportunities –
Entry Information
Tournament entry information, volunteer and sponsorship opportunities are available by contacting Bob Elliot at (989) 430-4436.
38th Annual Hospital Auxiliary Invitational Golf Tournament
Monday, November 18 and Tuesday, November 19, 2024
More Tournament Information
Please click on the 2023 tournament booklet cover below to learn more about our tournament and the contributions of our sponsors, golf course staff, prize and hole donors and golf committee.
