Sports Illustrated presented ‘The Golf Classic,’ a highly-anticipated VIP golf outing, held on Monday, July 10th at the esteemed Angeles National Golf Club. The Golf Classic, an annual event with a 19-year history as one of the longest-running lifestyle golf events in the country, announced an inaugural partnership with Sports Illustrated to expand the reach of the tournament through the storied media enterprise. 

The annual event combines networking, comradery and competitive golf through a scrimmage-style tournament that raises funds for UCLA Children’s Hospital. 

Talent attendees included special guest host Austin Reeves (LA LAKERS), who was joined by NBA star Metta World Peace, Joe Haden, Charles Oakley, Evan Ross, Brody Jenner, Brandon Thomas Lee, Gabriel Aubry, Tom Ellis, Skeet Ulrich, Jesse Lee Soffer, Paris Brosnan, Austin Mills, Blake Webber, Ryan Hansen, Jake Adams, Jesus of Golf, Chord Overstreet, Don Benjamin, Adam Senn, Kyle Schmidt, Erik Paladino, Nate Hill, DJ Politik, Beau Casper Smart, and Sports Broadcaster Ashley Haas who emceed the day, among many other players to comprise the 120 participants.

The Golf Classic was created in 2004 to provide an outlet for executives and entertainment industry VIPs, paired with celebrity guests to engage in networking and friendly competition for a good cause. Conceived by one of the nations’ premiere experiential marketing agencies, ENTER, founding creative Zev Norotsky has curated a tournament widely recognized as the originator of a new era of lifestyle driven golf event’ attracting key influencers, athletes, nightlife notables, celebrities, young creatives and entertainment industry elite. 

Participants played on a championship-level course that offered unique challenges to golfing enthusiasts of every skill level, personal peer-to-peer networking, and all the while supporting deserving philanthropic initiatives. Angeles National Golf Club, located in Sunland, California is a Par 72 championship, 18 hole golf course, with four sets of tees to accommodate players of all skill levels, comprising two lakes, one creek and 54 bunkers.

“The Golf Classic has long been the originator in lifestyle golf events here in the US, we have ostensibly created the blueprint for what a celebrity and professional athlete driven golf experience can look like and as we look ahead to our 20th year it only made sense to partner with the leading authority in sports media to bring this event to a wider audience and continue to raise the bar for what a brand driven and culturally relevant golf event can look like.” - Founder, Zev Norotsky

For the 2023 Los Angeles outing, The Golf Classic welcomed exciting beverage partners including pouring stations throughout the course presented by Casamigos, plus Saint James Tea, Celsius Energy, Flying Embers Hard Kombucha and Hello Soju. Mezcla and Liquid Death were also offered to guests, along with Drip Hydration Protein shots and a  Hyperice massage area on-site wellness relief. OOKA showcased their revolutionary new doseable pod device.

Shock’d Golf balls and Golf Tournament Solutions’ Golf Cannon activated immersive challenges on the course. Geometry provided commemorative branded towels for players, Crep Protect kept golfers’ shoes looking crispy clean out on the course and Palm Golf Co made sure each of the players had a fresh new pair of golfing gloves. Goodr outfitted their signature golf sport designed sunglasses on the bright, sunny day.

Beyond Meat once again kept tastes satisfied with an on-site food truck as well as the in-demand Yeastie Boys food truck, while Uncle Paulie’s served up their signature specialty cuisine favorites. Official hotel partner for the tournament this year was the L’ermitage Beverly Hills and The Golf Classic introduced an auto partnership with BMW.

Following Los Angeles, ENTER and Sports Illustrated will hit the road for a marquee golf event ahead of Big Game Weekend at TPC Summerlin. The second annual SI INVITATIONAL will be held on February 8th in Las Vegas.

ALL PHOTOS Courtesy of Startraks Photo / Michael Simon

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