Golf & Guitars at Haggin Oaks

For a golf professional who has worn as many hats as Hall-Of- Fame PGA Member Ken Morton, Sr. has over the years, it's only appropriate that they used a 5- gallon cowboy hat to help celebrate his 50th year at Haggin Oaks Golf Complex in Sacramento on May 20, 2008. After striking a chord with his community for five decades, a celebration of golf and music struck another chord with a celebrity pro-am and concert featuring 14 major- label country music acts. These included Tracy Lawrence, Josh Gracin, Jake Owen and more.

The story really began 50 years ago with then-Haggin Oaks Head Golf Professional (also a Hall-Of-Fame PGA Member) Tom LoPresti hiring an 18-year old former caddy and club repairman to work in his golf shop. Over the next half century, Morton, Sr. would win an unprecedented 5 National PGA Awards and have hundreds of PGA apprentices and members work under his wing. The story specific to this event fast-forwards to early in 2007, however. When Ken was asked by his team if there was anything he would like to do to mark the completion of his 5th decade at the facility, he said that he'd like to have a special day combining his two loves: golf & music. When he threw in that he'd like it to benefit the children's charities, The First Tee of Greater Sacramento and Make-A-Wish of Northern California, the mission had been set.

With a committee of volunteers from both charities, Morton Golf and Sacramento's leading country radio station KNCI 105.1 FM, the planning began. A date was selected two days after the Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas, Nevada. With all of the major artists out on the West Coast, it was hoped that some might travel the next day after the awards ceremony to participate in the event on the 20th of May. When the Sacramento Kings got involved with their coaching staff and the team received wonderful partnerships from many of Nashville's best artists and labels, a full field of 32 celebrities featuring 14 country music acts was set.

The star-studded lineup included Tracy Lawrence, who has had eight number one singles on the country music charts; Jack Ingram, winner of 2008 ACM New Artist Award; Josh Gracin of American Idol fame; Jason Michael Carroll- One Flew South; David Nail; Heidi Newfield; Jake Owen; Jimmy Wayne; Whiskey Falls; Crossin' Dixon; Emma Mae Jacobs; and Carolina Rain. They were joined by former Sacramento King, Harold Pressley; David Sutherland, member of the PGA Tour from 1997-2004; and more.

Each foursome played with one of the celebrities and at the conclusion of the round, were joined at the course by 600 more that paid for a dinner and concert ticket (without golf). Sacramento City Councilmember Rob Fong presented Morton, Sr. with a city doctrine and read a special letter commendation from PGA of America President Brian Whitcomb to the gathering.

What followed next was a four-hour concert with comparison only to the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. Each artist played three to four songs to a boisterous crowd. A silent auction of nearly 100 autographed pieces of memorabilia signed by PGA Tour stars (through relationships with various equipment vendors) and music stars (signed by dozens of artists both at the event and obtained by a team that went down to Las Vegas for the ACM awards) raised over $11,000. Overall, the event raised $25,000 for the charities.

Said Ken Morton, Sr, "Our Golf & Guitars celebrity pro-am and concert was an amazing day by all accounts. Each and every single tournament participant and concert-goer that I talked to said it was a day they will remember forever. On a personal level, my biggest three passions are golf, charity fundraising and music. This day was WAY beyond my hopes and expectations. All of the amazingly talented artists were genuine, down-to-earth and approachable. The fact that we were able to raise nearly $25,000 for charity and have the best party Sacramento has ever seen was a great combination."

With such success on all fronts, it was decided to continue the tournament and concert as an annual event. Now, that's music to the ears!