The Ballard High School Foundation has announced the details for the 11th annual Ballard High School Golf Classic to benefit Ballard High School's music and sports programs. For the fourth consecutive year, the Golf Club at Newcastle will host the event starting at 6 p.m. on Monday, August 1, with a dinner and auction.

The emcee for the evening event will be BHS’ own Bob Flick (Class of 1956) of the Brothers Four band. The tournament will kick off on the morning of Tuesday, August 2, with registration beginning at 7:00 a.m. and the 18-hole shotgun starting at 10:00 a.m.

From the press release:

This year’s event is honoring two individuals that were very influential in the BHS and Ballard communities.

Sir Jim Vatn, graduated from BHS in 1962. Not only was Jim very involved in many organizations in the Ballard community but he never forgot his BHS experience giving freely of his time and talents to his alma mater. He was an active member and chair of the Ballard High School Athletic Committee and Ballard High School Foundation. He served as chair of the very successful annual Foundation Golf Classic. Attendees of football and basketball games could hear the "Voice of the Beavers" - and came to recognize it as none other than Jim's.

The tournament this year is also recognizing Janet Rodgers. Janet was the Director of the BHS Foundation for many years. As Director of the Foundation, Janet built a great team of community members, alumni, faculty and staff that have worked on countless projects benefitting BHS students and the entire Ballard community. She was a part of the group behind the inaugural Ballard Beaver Bash, proceeds of which support BHS academic programs and was heavily involved in the Golf Classic.

This event brings out around 300 people each year and has grown into the Foundation’s largest fundraiser for sports and music at BHS. Funding provided by the Seattle Public School (SPS) for our athletic teams, and marching and pep bands primarily supports transportation costs for some teams. Each team only receives less than $500 from the SPS to cover all costs of their sport for the season. The BHS music program receives no funding from SPS.

At BHS over 850 student athletes participate on 35 different teams in 21 sports! Over 200 students are involved in various music groups and classes. Beginning in 2002-2003, several new musical groups were formed, and students now have a very wide range of program choices. The BHS music program, as a whole, makes every effort to be inclusive and to enable all students who might be interested to get involved and succeed at their personal goals while learning to be a great team member

Community members are encouraged to get a foursome together to play at one of the top golf courses in the Puget Sound area. There are also over 20 different sponsorship levels for companies to consider.

Registration, sponsorship, and donation details can be found at www.bhsgolfclassic.com.

For questions, email co-chairs Sue Verduin and Billy Rodgers at bhsgolfclassic@gmail.com.