What's on ebay? 1977 GGO Decanter

"This auction is for a nice vintage Ezra Brooks 1977 Greater Greensboro Open decanter. The decanter is in nice shape with no chips or cracks but the "chrome" golf club does show some finish loss. Great display piece. Check my other auctions for other decanters."

Exclusive Book Excerpt from "A GGO Thing" Part 2

Even with the success of the first Greater Greensboro Golf Tournament, as it was called on the orange tickets, members of the Greensboro Junior Chamber’s Board doubted the tournament’s future. Smith Barrier reports that there was grave concern among the membership.
The nightmare of going in debt with a golf tournament still existed, and Joyner remembered such an element among the Jaycees at the time: “We had a new group of officers in the Jaycees who came in sincerely and honestly feeling that a golf tournament would absolutely ruin the Junior Chamber, and it would put the chamber in disgrace and oblivion if this golf tournament were held. They actually called a meeting of the board to vote down this golf tournament, but it didn’t happen.”

An even though the first tournament failed to make a profit, it lost $314.90, it is fortunate for millions of golf fans that the Greensboro Junior Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors did continue to host the Greater Greensboro Open. The following is an excerpt from the 1938 Annual report submitted by the president of the Greensboro Junior Chamber of Commerce.

Perhaps the most outstanding project of our organization for the year 1938 was the First Annual Greater Greensboro Open Golf Tournament. Archie Joyner, as chairman of the Executive Committee, did a splendid job and our entire membership is to be commended for their unselfish cooperation. Almost without exception, all professional golfers of any consequence competed. Sam Snead, the greatest money winner of the year, won the tournament and the $1200.00 first prize money. The leading pros told us, and no one doubts their sincerity, that this was the finest tournament in which they had ever competed. They were very unselfish in their praise for Greensboro and the Junior Chamber of Commerce. The Executive Committee, with Charlie West as chairman, has already been appointed to handle the tournament for next year.

Minutes from a meeting held on April 7, 1938 by the Greensboro Junior Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors describes the organization’s decision to continue to host the event.

Several members of the Board expressed themselves as being in favor of getting in on record that the Junior Chamber of Commerce would sponsor the Golf Tournament annually. Dr. Stanford presented the following motion to the Board: It is resolved that the By-Laws of the Greensboro Junior Chamber of Commerce be amended by adding Article 14 to read as follows:

THAT the Greater Greensboro Open Golf Tournament be an annual and permanent event of the Greensboro Junior Chamber of Commerce.

The motion was seconded by Mr. Joyner and was passed unanimously. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.

While the story of the Ford Motor Company may be hard to prove, it does at least metaphorically capture the sprite of the young business minded individuals like Dr. Alex R Stanford and Archie Joyner that helped make Greensboro’s tournament a reality. It also embodies the spirit of the Greensboro community as it bands together each year to do its part to make the tournament in Greensboro a successful one.

This knowledge of the Greater Greensboro Open’s origin will certainly be of interest to the bottle collector and the sports fan alike. Keep these thoughts with you as you enjoy the Greater Greensboro Open commemorative decanters-the tournament’s most successful promotion to date.

(March 27, 2012 marks the 40th anniversary of the Greater Greensboro Open decanters. To celebrate this anniversary "A GGO Thing" is now on sale on Amazon.com for only $9.00.)

Children’s Charities at Wyndham Championship

Wyndham Worldwide is donating $100,000 toward a children-focused charity, during the Wyndham Championship, set for Sedgefield Country Club August 18-21, 2011.

Throughout the Wyndham Championship, spectators will vote at computer kiosks in the “Key to Wyn” tent for their “charity of choice” from almost 50 local and national not-for-profit children’s organizations. The $100,000 is being donated through Wishes by Wyndham, the philanthropic foundation of Wyndham Worldwide, and official charity of the Wyndham Championship.

The following local charities are included on the ballot, and align with the children’s health and wellness focus of Wishes by Wyndham. The winning charity will be announced Sunday, August 21, with a special check presentation ceremony following the Wyndham Championship trophy presentation on the 18th green of Sedgefield Country Club.

Alamance County Dispute Settlement & Youth Services
Alamance Partnership for Children
Amos Cottage
Autism Society of NC
Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Piedmont
Black Child Development Institute
Boy Scouts
Boys & Girls Club of Triad
Boys & Girls Home of NC
Burlington Housing Authority
Centers for Exceptional Children
Children’s Hunger Relief Fund
Children’s Wish Foundation International
Children’s Home Society of NC
Communities in Schools
Crosby’s Scholar Program
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Family Service of the Piedmont
First Tee of the Triad
Foster Friends of North Carolina
Girl Scouts
Guilford Child Development
Imprints for Families
Invisible Children
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation – Triad
Kevin Harvick Foundation
Make a Wish Foundation – Central NC
Masonic Home for Children at Oxford
Moms Rising
North Carolina Therapeutic Riding Center
Partnership for Drug-free NC
Positive Attitude Youth Center (Alamance County)
Prevent Child Abuse NC
Reading Connections
Ronald McDonald House Charities
Shriners Hospitals
Smile Train
Thompson Child & Family Focus
Tools for Schools (Guilford Education Alliance)
Triangle Family Services
United Way Chapters of the Triad
Victory Junction Gang Camp
YMCAs of Triad
Youth Build
Youth Focus
Youth Opportunities
Youth Unlimited
YWCAs of Triad

“We are incredibly proud of the philanthropic legacy at the Wyndham Championship,” said Stephen P. Holmes, chairman and CEO, Wyndham Worldwide. “We are thrilled to support so many outstanding organizations as part of our commitment to enhance the quality of life in communities around the world.”

“This program is a great opportunity for Piedmont Triad charities,” Wyndham tournament director Mark Brazil said. “By focusing on charities helping children, Wishes by Wyndham is able to help a group of people that is probably more important to our future than any other.

“The charitable organization that is most successful getting its people to Sedgefield during the Wyndham so they can vote is the one that will earn this $100,000 donation from Wishes by Wyndham. So to all of the charities on this list, I say ‘Go to work. Get as many supporters as you can onto the grounds of Sedgefield Country Club so they can get into the Key to Wyn tent and vote.’ That $100,000 donation will make a huge difference for the winning charity, and we thank Wishes by Wyndham for providing these funds to the winning charitable organization