Diamond Anniversary Crosby Bermuda Run Country Club Bermuda Run, North Carolina Schedule Thursday, May 31:  8:30 am The Crosby Shootout 11:30 am Kathryn’s Choice Golf Event Friday, June 1:  First tournament round begins with tee times from 7:30-10:00 am Saturday, June 2: Second tournament round begins with tee times from 7:30-10:00 am 1:30 pm, The Dennis Walters Show: combination golf clinic and trick shot demonstration Sunday, June 3: Final tournament round begins with tee times from 7:30-10:00 am 1:30 pm, The Dennis Walters Show: combination golf clinic and trick shot demonstration 4:30 pm, Awards ceremony at the 9th green, Silver Course Transportation and Parking The Crosby’s public parking and spectator shuttle site will be at Tanglewood Park, off Highway 158 near Clemmons, N.C. Exit Interstate 40 west of Winston-Salem and follow the signs. Thursday Busses to Bermuda Run run from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm. Last bus to Tanglewood at 7:00pm Friday Buses to Bermuda Run run from 6:30 am to 4:00 pm. Last bus to Tanglewood at 7:00pm Saturday Busses to Bermuda Run run from 6:00 am to 4:00 pm. Last bus to Tanglewood at 7:00pm Sunday Buses to Bermuda Run run from 6:00 am to 4:00 pm. Last bus to Tanglewood at 7:30pm

Celebrities Turn Out for Final Crosby

By BILL SUGG

The North Carolina venue for the Crosby National Celebrity Golf Tournament is about to come to a close. After 16 years at the Bermuda Run Country Club, the Crosby will cease in North Carolina. It will be the 60th playing – the diamond anniversary – of what has become one of the most significant charity/celebrity tournaments in the country. There has been no indication that the Crosby will return at a new location in the future.

Through its years in the Piedmont, the Crosby has raised over $18 million for charitable causes here and throughout the country. It will leave a continuing legacy with the unique Crosby Scholars program which assures deserving high school students in Forsyth and Davie counties scholarship monies.

The Crosby will be played over 27 holes at Bermuda Run from Thursday, May 31, through Sunday, June 3. Bermuda Run Country Club is the third location for this popular tourney. It began at Rancho Santa Fe, near San Diego, Calif., in 1937, for a five-year stint. After a brief hiatus during World War II, the tournament moved to Pebble Beach in 1947. Beginning in 1958 the tournament was broadcast on national television and for many years was the most watched golf events. It came to Bermuda Run in 1986.

Many of the anticipated returning celebrities are familiar to fans in the Piedmont. They include basketball hall of famers "Dr. J" Julius Erving, Bob Cousy and Dean Smith, former coach of the UNC Tarheels. Coaches Roy Williams, Steve Spurrier and Buzz Peterson will be joined by other sports luminaries including Johnny Unitas, Kelly Tripucka, Jan Stenerud, Stan Mikita, John Mackovic, Austin Carr and Marty Schottenheimer.

Politicians include former North Carolina Governor Jim Martin and Congressman Richard Burr who will be joined by entertainers Elke Sommer, Wes Parker, Kimberlin Brown, Joshua Morrow, Stacy Keach and many others.

After several years when his schedule wouldn’t allow his participation, the popular Dennis Franz, star of "NYPD Blue" is confirmed. Crosby tournament manager Robbie Wooten noted, "We are very excited to have Dennis coming back. He was always so great to our sponsors and spectators."

New faces also will be seen this year. Among those first timers will be popular rock musician "Meat Loaf" Aday, former UNC basketball coach Bill Guthridge, NFL field reporter Bonnie Bernstein, ESPN personalities Linda Cohn and Stuart Scott and Josh Duhamel, the smooth operator Leo du Pres on ABC’s "All My Children."

The winner of the first Crosby, Sam Snead, will be there.

Snead was a relatively unknown pro when he captured the initial $500 prize. As the story goes, Bing presented Snead with a check for winning. Snead responded, "If it is all the same to you, Mr. Crosby, I’d rather have cash."

Another pro from the past attending this year will be Harry Pezzullo, Bing’s pro for many years. Pezzullo has the distinction of being in the Guinness Book of Records as the only man to hit holes-in-one both left- and right-handed.

The very popular trick-shot artist Dennis Walters will conduct a combination golf clinic and trick shot demonstration on Saturday and Sunday at 1:30 pm.

Free transportation to and from the tournament will be available at Tanglewood Park beginning on Thursday morning and will continue until Sunday evening.

The tournament, as a thank you to the community for its support in the past, will offer free admission for the Saturday session.

No advance tickets are sold. Tickets for the Thursday, Friday and Sunday sessions may be purchased at the spectator parking lot in Tanglewood Park. Single day ticket prices are $15 and four-day passes are $50. Children under 12 are admitted free.

Among the innovations at this year’s event will be a food court between the two ninth greens. Mountain Fried Chicken, Jersey Mike’s Subs and Blue Ridge Ice Cream will be among the vendors represented there.

The Crosby has a user-friendly website up and running. It includes sections on the history of the tournament, a schedule of events, information on sponsorships, and a brief overview of the Crosby Scholars program and a list of celebrities. As time draws closer to tournament week, the celebrity section will include brief bios and photos of the notables.

The Crosby website also includes links to numerous other sites that deal with Bing Crosby, the namesake of the local tournament. During his long career, Crosby gained worldwide fame and popularity for his melodious voice and his comic skills with friend Bob Hope and the many "road" movies they made. He was also well known for his interest in hunting, fishing and especially golf. He died in October, 1977, of a massive heart attack. He had just completed 18 holes at the La Moraleja Golf Club in Madrid, Spain, having shot an 87.

For those wanting to listen to some of Bing’s songs, or for those who may not have heard him sing, follow the links for some downloadable selections.

Point your browser to http://www.thecrosby.org