Bradenton Beach will host a golf event Monday, April 13, as the Golf Coast Drive tees off at Coquina Beach to open Senior PGA Championship week.
Organizers expect about 150 participants, including 80 youths in a First Tee Sarasota/Manatee clinic.
Activities run 1-7 p.m., with public play, youth instruction, and a closing awards ceremony scheduled throughout the afternoon and evening.
The contest is a prelude to a larger event: April 16-19, The Concession Golf Course in Bradenton will host the Senior PGA Championship.
Notice of the contest had drawn criticism from environmentalists, including the executive director of Suncoast Waterkeeper, who suggested a change of venue.
When early plans included driving biodegradable golf balls into the Gulf of Mexico, Waterkeeper’s Abbey Tyrna raised concerns with the makeup of the golf balls and the message driving them into the Gulf would send.
Referring to a lab report on the golf balls, she had told The Islander and the BACVB, “The ecological fate and the ecological toxicity of the materials are unknown and cannot be extrapolated from the OECD 301B test. However, beyond this, teaching kids to throw or hit things into the Gulf just sends the wrong message.”
In response, the BACVB said golf balls would not be hit into the water and also said there would be environmental information shared at the event.
For more info, go to bradentongulfislands.com.
— Lisa Neff
Daytrip for Bucs Beach Bash
Bucs fans can daytrip to St. Pete Beach April 23-26 for the Bucs Beach Bash at the TradeWinds Resort.
The event coincides with the NFL draft and includes watch parties, appearances by team mascots and promotional groups, games and contests and a concert featuring Uncle Kracker is scheduled for April 25.
For more information, go to justletgo.com or call 866- 587-8538.
— Lisa Neff