Tournament week for the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give got off to a great start with a wide range of events for everyone from customers to kids to celebrities. We began our day at Egypt Valley Country Club with the Meijer LPGA Celebrity Pro-Am featuring celebrities from all over the Midwest, and on the very same course, we turned our attention to the less experienced golf fans by hosting our first Junior Clinic of the week. We wrapped up the afternnon by surprising Meijer customers at our Knapp’s Corner store with a special delivery from LPGA professional Morgan Pressel.
Our second annual Meijer LPGA Celebrity Pro-Am offered celebrities the opportunity to support our Simply Give program while having a good time on the golf course. Celebrity players, including retired NFL linebacker and Travel Channel host- Dhani Jones, PGA golfer- Dan Pohl, three-time Olympic gold medalist- Heather Mitts and former NFL quarterback for the Detroit Lions and Pittsburgh Steelers- Charlie Batch. Multiple Red Wings greats also hit the course to support Simply Give, including all-stars- Larry Murphy and Darren McCarty, and current Red Wings center- Luke Glendening. The celebrity-led teams split up between two courses with winning teams led by WOOD-TV’s Jack Doles and former Michigan State University point guard- Drew Neitzel.
Meanwhile, Meijer CEO Hank Meijer welcomed more than 70 participants, ages 17 and under, to the Junior Clinic with some words of encouragement and introduced the group to two very special guests: LPGA players Becky Morgan and Jane Rah. Morgan and Rah shared stories of how they got involved in the sport and some of their best tips for players starting out.
The young golf enthusiasts learned from golf pros from First Tee of West Michigan and Egypt Valley Golf Course. The pros made the learning process even more fun and relatable for our young participants by incorporating games and fun equipment, including giant inflatable dinosaurs, into the workshops.
Additionally, we surprised some unsuspecting Meijer customers when LPGA professional Morgan Pressel delivered their Meijer Curbside groceries to their car at our Knapp’s Corner store. Along with their groceries, Meijer Curbside customers received a $10 Simply Give donation card, representing a donation made in their name courtesy of Procter & Gamble, as well as two tickets to this weekend’s Meijer LPGA Classic. Between loading bags into cars, Pressel even found time to offer tips to a few customers looking to improve their game.