LPGA VOLVIK CHAMPIONSHIP GIVES BACK TO THE TROOPS
With the LPGA Volvik Championship taking place during Memorial Day weekend it’s fitting that the tournament will be giving back to the military. Throughout the week, the Volvik Championship is offering free admission to the Tournament to veterans, active military and their guests as well as access to a Military Chalet on the ninth hole courtesy of DTE Energy.
“This is great that this event is obviously helping promote military as well,” said Paula Creamer. “I think a lot of people forget that men and women are overseas fighting for us every day and they need to be reminded that we have to say thank you and count our lucky stars that we can live in this great country. “
Creamer is particularly excited to play this week at Travis Pointe Country Club as she has several military ties; her father served as a pilot in the Navy and her husband is currently a pilot in the Air Force. Additionally, the Paula Creamer Foundation offers support to the wives and families of veterans, soldiers and reserves that have served the country in the armed forces.
“I give so much respect to those men and woman who go out and fight for our freedom and allow me to come out and play golf,” Creamer said. “I think it’s just amazing what they do, not only them but their families as well. Any time I get the opportunity to say thank you to them I always take it.”
Giving back to the military is important to several players out on the LPGA Tour including Creamer and Rolex Rankings No. 3 Lexi Thompson.
“Yeah, that’s very close to my heart. I’m a big supporter of the military,” Thompson said. “Wounded Warrior Project is my main charity that I donate to. But I think every tournament should have the military charitable cause with it. But it’s great to have the military gets in free this week, and with the 9th hole they get to go to the tent there for free. It’s great to see. It’s great to give back to the men and woman who have served our country and to give back to also the family members that are involved as well.”
LOCAL CELEBRITIES TO PLAY IN PRO-AM
Several local celebrities will take part in the LPGA Volvik Championship pro-am Wednesday morning.
Celebrities expected to take part in the pro-am include former Red Wings Joe Kocur and Mickey Redmond, Red Wings TV announcer Ken Daniels, former Michigan State basketball standout Greg Kelser and Kid Rock guitarist Marlon Young.
Former College Football Hall of Fame and University of Michigan football coach Lloyd Carr just added his name to the list.
ANN ARBOR WELCOMES LPGA TOUR
The LPGA will be making its first trip to Ann Arbor for the LPGA Volvik Championship at Travis Pointe Country Club. While the LPGA is new to the Ann Arbor area it is no stranger to the great state of Michigan. Since its first trip to the Great Lakes State in 1955 for the Wolverine Open, the LPGA has hosted 26 events in nine additional Michigan cities.
“I’ve always had a blast every time we’ve come and played here, such great support,” Paula Creamer said of playing in Michigan. “The fun thing for us, yes, we do go to new places but kind of when you go to a place that just appreciates golf so much, it makes it a little bit better and you want to play a little bit better for the fans as well.”
Fellow pro Lexi Thompson, who won last year’s Meijer LPGA Classic in Grand Rapids, echoed Creamer’s comments on playing the new event at Travis Pointe Country Club.
“I think everybody just in general is very happy with how many tournaments we’ve added to the schedule, where we get to go, the golf courses we get to play,” Thompson said. “I think everybody is just really thrilled about each and every tournament that we get to go to. That’s what we want to see, we just want to see smiles out here and getting a lot of fans out here to watch.”
The LPGA Volvik Championship is part of resurgence for the LPGA over the past five years, which since 2011 has added 10 new North-American-based events.
“I think our commissioner, Mike Whan, has done a great job of bringing new events to our tour schedule,” Creamer explained. “I think it’s important that we have our tournaments in the States. I’m a global player, have a global sponsor so it is important to travel overseas, but at the same time this is our home and this is where we want to play. So it’s nice that we’ve been getting more events in the States and in locations like this where golf is so important and people love the game. They don’t get to play it all the time, so when it’s there it’s more exciting I think for the fans to come out and watch. Obviously a new event, you’re going to learn some things here and there, but I think the excitement about it is very important.”
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