The 20th annual – and final – Morgan Leah McCarty Golf Classic will be held September 12, at Woodland Hills Golf & Country Club, 2 Club House Drive in Pinson.

Pam & Mike McCarty founded the non-profit Morgan Leah McCarty Scholarship Fund – in memory of their daughter – to provide financial assistance to area youth for their college expenses.

Golden Media Group – 101.5 FM – visited with Pam & Mike for a Question & Answer session about the event.

Question: You have decided this year’s Morgan McCarty Golf Classic – the 20th Anniversary – will be the final classic. When did you and Mike decide this would be the final and how difficult was the decision?

Answer:  We decided last year to make this year the final year. It came with mixed emotions of sadness being the last year and relief and satisfaction of an unbelievable run and enormous success for the last 20 years and a wonderful time to call it quits!

Question:  What was the response after you and Mike announced this was the final event?

Answer: Some people were disappointed, but others understand the effort and work that goes into this event and how long this event has been so important to so many people. When people heard they wanted to be a part of the last tournament and our teams filled up in five days. We have a waiting list now for teams. It’s satisfying that so many wanted to take part in the 20th year.

Question: When you look back on the classic, did you ever think the event would evolve into what it has become?

Answer: No, we did not – we thought we could pull off a couple of years, we had no idea 20 years we would still be going so strong. We couldn’t have accomplished without all the community support from the golfers, businesses, and the sponsors. Our family and our board of directors, which are our friends, have made it possible to last this long.

Question: We’re sure each event was special, but is there any one moment that stands out?

Answer: Probably the first golf classic at Falcon Ridge. We had a huge party the night before with auction items, band, and great food and drink. We got up at dawn and had two flights of golfers with over 56 teams and two flights – unbelievable turnout with remarkable results along with pure exhaustion.

Another time about our fifth year at Falcon Ridge, we had a car on the course for a hole in one winner. It was sponsored by a local dealership. After the golf tournament, one of our board members’ job was to take the car back and he forgot. The car was still on the golf course and he went to the course to retrieve the car at 3 a.m. – He said it was a little hard navigating the course at night, but it made it back to the car dealership good as new. We made sure to double check the car each year after.
Question: Do you have any numbers on the classic you can share – number of volunteers who worked the event, golfers who have participated, how much money has been raised, and amount of money presented for scholarships?

Answer: We have had over 400 volunteers help with the golf classic and other events (and) we have had roughly 2200 golfers participate.

We have given over $400,000 in scholarship money and have raised over $750,000 – the difference to be given in scholarships over the next 20 years or so –

We have many golfers that have attended all 20 years, and a few have missed only 2 or 3. We have some very loyal players. They same goes for our volunteers that help on the golf day. Some have shown up year after year to help.

It’s amazing how generous people have been. One golfer, Bobby Johnson, has played almost every year. One year I knew he had shoulder surgery and would be out but sent in his money just like he was playing.

On the morning of the tournament, Bobby showed up before tee-off. I asked him what he was doing there since he couldn’t play and he said he hadn’t missed one and he just came out to see everyone off for the day.

Question: Would you like to discuss the events that will take place leading up to the classic, and have you thought about leaving Woodland Hills Golf & Country Club one final time?

Answer: This year we will have an appreciation party and dance for those golfers and supporters who have given their money, time, and service to make this so successful. We will recap the 20 years and have a few former scholarship winners telling them what the scholarship they received meant to them. It will be an evening of gratitude to our family, board members, golfers, and community sponsors. Words cannot express how grateful we are to each one that made our 20 years such a success. – leaving Woodland Hills for the last time will be bittersweet for sure – so many great memories!

(PHOTO: Pam and Mike McCarty)