Golfers hoping to play some of the Chattanooga area’s most sought-after courses have until Sunday night to bid for that opportunity.
Rounds 4 Research is an innovative program of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America Foundation aimed at generating resources to fund research and help ensure golf’s future. Over 1,000 golf courses nationally – including some of the of the country’s most exclusive clubs – are listed among those available through an online bidding process to secure play for a foursome.
The premise is simple: golf facilities donate rounds of golf – including some “stay and play” packages – via the online auction. The link to the bidding is found at Rounds 4 Research auction. Bidding is slated to conclude Sunday night at 10 p.m. EDT.
More than 100 offerings are available among Tennessee golf courses, including local entrants Black Creek, Cleveland Country Club, Council Fire, Flagstone, Moccasin Bend, Bear Trace at Harrison Bay, The Course at Sewanee, Signal Mountain and The Ooltewah Club. Additionally, many of the state’s other premier clubs such as The Grove, Vanderbilt Legends, TPC Southwind and Tennessee National are on the menu and well as Tennessee Golf Trail courses.
Courses open for bid in Georgia include local favorites Dalton Golf and Country Club, The Farm, McLemore, Trenton and Nob North. Others in the Peach State include top layouts such as Atlanta Country Club, Sea Island Golf Club and the ultra-exclusive Ohoopee Match Club.
Rounds 4 Research allows GCSAA chapters and turfgrass foundations to participate as fundraising partners with the vast majority of the proceeds going back to those local organizations. The program also addresses a critical shortage of funding for ongoing, university-based agronomic research, education, advocacy programs and course operations.
Proceeds from the Tennessee GCSA helps fund turfgrass research at the University of Tennessee, provide funding for membership career development and education, as well as supporting advocacy efforts to help protect the environment while growing golf for future generations.
The GCSAA Foundation is the philanthropic organization of GCSAA. Founded in 1955 as the GCSAA Scholarship & Research Fund for the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, the Foundation ensures the GCSAA continues the mission to position golf courses as properly managed landscapes that contribute to the greater good of their communities. Supporters of the Foundation know that they are fostering programs and initiatives that will benefit the game, its environment and communities for years to come.
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Paul Payne can be emailed at paulpayne6249@gmail.com