FAQ

1. Has this event ever taken place before?
2. What are the dates and format?
3. Who will be invited to participate?
4. Are caddies permitted?
5. What prizes will be awarded to the winner?
6. What about the Am/Am event?
7. Is there a chairman of the 2011 Patriot All-America?
8. How was the Wigwam selected as the host site?
9. What is the connection with Folds of Honor?
10. What is the role of Folds of Honor?
11. What is the entry fee and what does it include?
12. Besides golf, what else will be happening throughout the week?
13. Who should I contact for additional information?

Q. Has this event ever taken place before?

A. This is the inaugural year for the Patriot All-America. In early 2010, the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) and the Arizona Golf Association (AGA) came up with the concept of having a “bowl game” experience for collage all America players.

Q. What are the dates and format?

A. The event will take place during the week between Christmas and New Year from December 26-30, 2011. The week will kick off with an AM/AM event on Monday, practice rounds on Tuesday and a 54-hole stroke play tournament Wednesday Thursday and Friday.

Q. Who will be invited to participate?

A. The field is limited to 84 male players. The GCAA will send invitations to those who have earned current year PING All-America honors in NCAA Divisions I, II and III as well as the NAIA and NJCAA Divisions I and II. Additionally, invitations will be extended to a member of the United States Military, Naval and Air Force Academies, GCAA national award recipients, members of the most recent Palmer Cup Teams, American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) All-Americans and Toyota Junior Golf World Cup participants currently enrolled in their freshman year of college.

Q. Are caddies permitted?

A. Caddies are mandatory for this tournament – the player may NOT carry his own bag. For those that do not have a caddie, they will be provided compliments of The First Tee of Phoenix.

Q. What prizes will be awarded to the winner?

A. Special awards are planned for the winners.

Q. What about the Am/Am event?

A. There will be an am/am event held on Monday, December 26 that will include one player and three amateurs. Entries are open to anyone who wants to support the players and/or the event. A total of 27 teams will compete in a shamble format (all players tee off, select the best drive and each player completes the play of the hole from that spot) beginning at noon. A barbeque and awards presentation will be held immediately following the round.

Q. Is there a chairman of the 2011 Patriot All-America?

A.  Co-Chairs for the event are US Senator and former US Navy Captain John McCain and former owner of the Phoenix Suns and Arizona Diamondbacks, Jerry Colangelo.

Q. How was the Wigwam selected as the host site?

A. A new ownership group, JDM Partners, purchased The Wigwam in December 2009 and began extensive renovations to the hotel and golf courses. The Gold Course (a Robert Trent Jones original design) was once among the top 100 golf courses in America. The ownership, led by sports icon Jerry Colangelo, felt that a partnership with the AGA in this event would be good for The Wigwam and the surrounding community.

Q. What is the connection with Folds of Honor?

A. The GCAA and Folds of Honor founder Major Dan Rooney have a strong relationship. The AGA has a commitment to military charities and Folds of Honor provides scholarships and other assistance to families of fallen or disabled soldiers.

Q. What is the role of Folds of Honor?

A. Folds of Honor will identify a fallen warrior from each invited player’s home or school to be honored during the event. The player will carry a golf bag donated by PING embroidered with the warrior’s name. The golf bags will be presented to the players by the Event Chairman during the opening ceremonies. At the conclusion of the tournament, the golf bags will be sent to the players’ schools where they will be auctioned off to benefit the Folds of Honor Charity.

Q. What is the entry fee and what does it include?

A. The entry fee is $400/player. This includes tournament fees, lodging from December 26-31 (assumes two players per room), two meals per day, transfer to and from the airport, all events, tournament gifts, opening and closing ceremonies. Players do not have any additional mandatory expenses.

Q. Besides golf, what else will be happening throughout the week?

A. Optional activities will be scheduled throughout the week. The Patriot Ambassadors will provide a concierge services for guests of the players. Specific information will be published as it becomes available.

Q. Who should I contact for additional information?

A. For additional information about the event, contact Ed Gowan at the Arizona Golf Association at 602-944-3035 or email patriotall-america@azgolf.org or Tom O’Malley at JDM Partners 602-244-2307.