HARBOR SHORES, Michigan – The Harbor Cup golf event, which brings together PGA professionals from BOYNE Golf and the Petoskey/Harbor Springs region, has become part of the fabric of holiday giving in Northern Michigan.
Over the past 28 years, the event has raised over a million dollars, benefiting the local charities Manna Food Project and First Tee-Northern Michigan.
The annual fall event was held Sept. 30-Oct. 1 on the Links/Quarry course at Bay Harbor Golf Club, near Petoskey, Michigan. PGA professionals from BOYNE Golf properties were matched against PGA professionals from Petoskey/Harbor Springs area golf courses (Team Harbor) in a fun 54-hole Ryder Cup-style format.
Team BOYNE professionals raised more than $80,000 for the designated charities this year. The donations resulted from the year-long fundraising effort leading up to and following the event and supporting the Harbor Cup Charitable Fund at the Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation.
Many donations came from the Country Club of Boyne and Bay Harbor Golf Club members, proceeds from merchandise sales, and pro-am golf events around the area.
The BOYNE Golf Harbor Cup team proudly presented donation checks to Manna Food Project($70,000.00) and First Tee-Northern Michigan ($10,000) through the Community Foundation’s Harbor Cup Charitable Fund.
Manna Food is a pantry and warehouse that supplies food to more than 35 pantries and agencies in Antrim, Charlevoix, and Emmet counties. This year’s charitable contribution will help provide more than 70,000 meals to community members.
In addition, First Tee is an organization that promotes character development and life-enhancing values to area youth through the game of golf. The donation helps to increase programming opportunities and reach more youth. Other organizations in Northern Michigan will also benefit from the Harbor Cup charitable donations.
“The Harbor Cup event, with its annual holiday giving, has become a wonderful tradition here in Northern Michigan. We could not do any of this without all the support we receive from the Harbor Cup Charitable Fund, a component fund of the Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation, along with the Country Club of Boyne and Bay Harbor Golf Club members, area businesses, vendors, and homeowners,” said Steve Niezgoda, Bay Harbor Golf Club Head Professional and Team BOYNE’s Harbor Cup Captain.
“On behalf of all the PGA golf professionals from BOYNE and across the Petoskey/Harbor Springs area who have participated in this great event, we want to say how proud we are to be able to impact the community like this during the holiday season. It is very gratifying.”
The Team BOYNE Harbor Cup included Captain Steve Niezgoda, Assistant Captains Bernie Friedrich, Josh Richter, and Joe Charles. Players included Casey Powers, Brian Jakeway, Benny Dieterle, Corey May, Zach Zondlo, Scott Pussehl, Chaz Babin, Bob Wilson, John Myers, Avry Freel, and Nathan Kraynyk.
For more information on Manna Food Project, visit www.mannafoodproject.org and to learn more about First Tee Northern Michigan, go to www.firstteenorthernmichigan.org.
For more information on BOYNE Golf, visit www.BOYNEgolf.com.
