The 2024 BMW Championship will honor the military community – and recognize Colorado’s strong military ties – with a special ticket offer and unique experiences during championship week at Castle Pines Golf Club on August 20-25.
All active-duty military, retirees, active reserves and veterans of any branch of service will receive complimentary admission to the championship, courtesy of proud partners Aggreko and PXG. The week-long celebration of America’s armed forces will include an opening ceremony on the first tee at 8 a.m. MT on Thursday, August 22, with singer and songwriter Amanda Hawkins performing the national anthem and a flyover by four F-16 fighter jets from the Colorado Air National Guard before the start of the first round.
“Our commitment to honoring and supporting the brave men and women who serve our country is a cornerstone of the BMW Championship,” said Vince Pellegrino, WGA Senior Vice President of Tournaments. “We are deeply grateful for the sacrifices of our military and are proud to honor those who serve and protect through these special experiences.
With the support of Aggreko and PXG, spectators with military tickets for Tuesday and Wednesday’s practice rounds will have access to the Nicklaus Club, a climate-controlled lounge equipped with a PXG golf simulator, complimentary food and drinks and seating overlooking the iconic par-3 16th hole. Military tickets can be secured through the championship website at bmwchampionship.com.
“At Aggreko, we have a proud history of working with and supporting our veterans,” said Stephen Saal, Aggreko’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing, North America. “We are grateful to have found a partner in the WGA who values giving back as much as we do, and it is an honor to be able to do so as a military appreciation partner for the BMW Championship this year.”
“We are proud to support the military community at the BMW Championship,” said PXG founder and U.S. Marine Corps Vietnam War Veteran Bob Parsons. “As a veteran-owned company, PXG understands the importance of service and sacrifice.”
In addition to the national anthem and flyover, Thursday’s opening ceremony will include a presentation of colors by members of the NORAD and US NORTHCOM Joint Color Guard from Peterson Space Force Base. The ceremony will also recognize 2024 BMW Championship Honorary Chairman Jack Nicklaus, the 18-time major champion who designed Castle Pines Golf Club.
Efforts to celebrate the military community are being supported by Folds of Honor, an organization that provides educational scholarship to the spouses and children of U.S. military service members and first responders who have fallen or been disabled while serving our country and communities.
Spectators will be encouraged to wear red, white and blue on Thursday, August 22, and Folds of Honor ribbons will be distributed to 1,000 volunteers and the first 1,000 patrons entering the championship. In addition, Folds of Honor will award 13 scholarships to Denver-area students in honor of the BMW Championship.
“We are grateful to the BMW Championship, its sponsors and its outstanding team for including Folds of Honor in its generous commitment to the military,” said Lt. Col. Dan Rooney, founder and CEO of Folds of Honor. “The BMW Championship is providing a total of at least 13 local academic scholarships to the families of fallen or disabled military service members and first responders, which truly makes a life-changing difference. The tournament, and those associated with the event, understand the importance of an education and are doing something positive about it.”
About the BMW Championship
The BMW Championship dates back to 1899 when it debuted as the Western Open, making it the third-oldest tournament on the PGA TOUR schedule, behind only the British Open and U.S. Open. BMW has sponsored the tournament since 2007 when it became the penultimate event of the PGA TOUR’s FedExCup Playoffs. The BMW Championship features a field of the top 50 players in the FedExCup standings to determine the final 30 players for the FedExCup final at the TOUR Championship in Atlanta. Since 2007, the BMW Championship has contributed more than $50 million to the Evans Scholars Foundation, the event’s charitable beneficiary. To learn more, visit www.bmwchampionship.com.
About Castle Pines Golf Club
Castle Pines Golf Club was the longtime dream and vision of Denver businessman Jack A. Vickers. In 1981, with the help of close friend, renowned champion golfer, fellow Castle Pines Founder and golf course architect Jack Nicklaus, his vision became reality with the birth of Castle Pines Golf Club. The 18-hole Nicklaus Signature design has stood the test of time and was a prominent stop on the PGA TOUR from 1986-2006. The INTERNATIONAL was noted as one of the TOUR players’ favorite venues and hosted some of the greatest players in the history of golf. Now playing at over 8,000 yards, with a par of 72, this undulating layout features narrow fairways lined with majestic Ponderosa pines and elevated, multi-tiered greens. The golf course has consistently been rated among the great places in the game by Golf Digest.
