Brooklyn, NY – after a 2-year hiatus, the Original Tee Golf Classic (OTGC) returned to Wild Turkey Golf Club at Crystal Springs Resort in Hamburg, NJ.
In celebration of its first in-person post-pandemic outing, OTGC introduced an inaugural Ryder Cup style, match play format that featured two-on-two matches within every foursome to win points for their team contributing to an overall win. The full field of golfers were broken down into 2 teams – OTGC’s 2022 honoree, Alonzo Mourning’s Miami Heat, and NBA Legend John Starks’ New York Knicks. Presided over by USGA official Lisa Lifer and PGA professional Rashad Wilson, in true OTGC fashion, the basketball legends teamed up to go head-to-head for an ultimate 18-hole matchup, with Mourning’s Miami Heat taking home the prize.
OTGC also featured an elite, professional golfer match. Taking the green for a hefty purse where Louis Kelly, New Jersey 2022 Open Title winner, Lakareber Abe from University of Alabama, Olajuwon Ajanaku, graduate of Morehouse and founder of Eastside Golf and Sadena Parks of the LPGA.
In addition to its star-studded competition, OTGC teamed up with Nike, PGA Tour, LPGA, and PepsiCo in presenting its OTGC Fresh Classic. Led by PGA Professional Gavin Parker, the youth experience fashioned and created by Nike, provided 27 junior golfers of all ages an opportunity to have fun, develop skills, compete, and win prizes. Parker was named Best Young Teacher in America by Golf Digest.
The festive weekend ended with OTGC annual honors dinner. Hosted by comedian Alex Thomas, in celebration of its 23rd anniversary the premier celebrity/amateur and professional tournament presented NBA Legend Alonzo Mourning with its prestigious True Original Award. “I really am humbled and honored to be recognized for the thing that I truly care about, and it’s not basketball,” said Mourning. “One of the words I hear used quite a bit is community. Community is important to me because we don’t grow in isolation. We don’t grow by ourselves. We grow in community.”
In addition to receiving the True Original honors, sponsor ClubCar feted Mourning with a custom-designed Onward ClubCar during his stay, Arcis Golf, the premiere owner, operators of one of the largest collection of properties, resorts, and public golf clubs, presented Mourning with a certificate entitling him to two foursomes at one of their stateside locations. Moet Hennessy co-sponsored the sponsor dinner and welcome party and presented the NBA legend with a personal engraved bottle of Hennessy Paradis.
Original Tee is a culture club that amplifies inclusion in golf by preserving the history of the game’s diverse Black pioneers and celebrating other iconic golf enthusiasts who are ambassadors of excellence. Launched in 2000, by marketing entrepreneur Wendell J. Haskins, the Original Tee Golf Classic reflects the unprecedented convergence of the worlds of golf, business, fashion, and entertainment through a multi-channel approach that excites the masses and welcomes newcomers of all ages to the game.
PHOTOS BY MARGOT JORDAN
