Harbor Cup Competition Tops $400K For Charities

Harbor Cup Competition Tops $400K For Charities Since 1997

Played annually in the fall, the Harbor Cup is a Ryder Cup style competition that pits 12 Boyne golf resort professionals (Team Boyne) against 12 other Petoskey area pros (Team Harbor) Since its start in 1997, the competition has raised more than $400,000 for local charities including Manna Food Project and the First Tee of Northern Michigan.

In 2018, the yearlong charitable efforts of the northern Michigan golf pros raised more than $43,000.

At the September competition, Team Boyne pulled out a 13-11 victory over Team Harbor. It was Team Boyne’s first win in two years. The event was held at The Heather, Boyne Highland’s Robert Trent Jones’ course.

“The Harbor Cup has become a symbol of excellence in charitable contributions in Northern Michigan and we are so proud of the efforts that each team makes to generate awareness and the donations that impact so many,” said Bernie Friedrich, Team Boyne’s Harbor Cup Captain and Senior Vice President of Boyne Resorts’ Golf Operations and Resort Sales. “The long-term success of this event and its causes would not be possible without the support of both teams golf professionals, as well as support from Country Club of Boyne and Bay Harbor Golf Club members, homeowners, and team members.”

Boyne Golf professionals presented a check totaling $26,600 to the Manna Food Project, a pantry and warehouse that supplies food to more than 35 pantries and agencies in Antrim, Charlevoix and Emmet counties. The charitable contribution provides over 100,000 meals to community members.

In addition, a check for $14,400 was presented to The First Tee of Northern Michigan, an organization that promotes character development and life enhancing values through the game of golf. The donation helps to increase programming opportunities and reach more youth. Other organizations impacted by the event include Boyne City Schools where a gift of $600 was presented for the Girls Tennis Team and Petoskey Area Schools received $1,600 toward their girls’ golf team.

The Harbor Cup is symbolic of golf’s PGA TOUR tournaments collectively raised $180 million for charities in 2017, bringing the TOUR’s all time charitable donations for $2.65 billion. We Are Golf, the industry’s advocacy group reported that overall, golf raised $3.9 billion in 2016.

In Michigan, at least, I’m pretty sure that I could play in a charitable golf outing every day of the week during the season. Some are for school sports teams, established charities and community organizations. I have played in others simply trying to raise money to help a family meet medical bills.

I doubt any other sport can match those efforts.

Kudos to Boyne Golf for their Harbor Cup efforts.