HOOTIE AND THE BLOWFISH MONDAY AFTER THE MASTERS CELEBRITY PRO-AM GOLF TOURNAMENT

North Myrtle Beach is gearing up for the 14th Annual Hootie and the Blowfish Monday After the Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament! (Wow, that’s a long name!)

Voted one of the most popular celebrity tournaments in the country, 2008 marks the 14th year of its existence. Gates open at 8:30 A.M. on Monday, April 14 at the Dye Course at Barefoot Golf and Resort in North Myrtle Beach, but tickets are already sold out. This is the third consecutive year the 6,000 tickets have been sold out prior to the tournament.

Celebrities from the sports world, entertainers from the recording industry as well as actors, and golf pros make up the extensive list of famous personalities that will participate in the event.

Proceeds from ticket sales benefit the Hootie and the Blowfish Foundation that supports educational needs of children in South Carolina as well as the South Carolina Junior Golf Foundation. Last year, the tournament raised $456,000; and cumulative proceeds from the past 13 years exceed $3.5 million dollars!

Hootie and the Blowfish band was formed in 1985 when the members were freshmen at the University of South Carolina. Their local popularity grew, and they became national recording artists in a few short years. They were named "Best New Artists" at the esteemed Grammy Awards in 1991.

Citizens of South Carolina have benefited greatly from their philanthropic deeds.

Darius Rucker, lead singer, may croon the famous "Only Wanna Be With You", but they certainly have included all of us in their circle!