BUCKINGHAM — Larry the Cable Guy never played a down in the NFL and he”s no threat to challenge the likes of a Tiger Wood on a golf course. Even so, one of the stars of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour may just make a cameo on Saturday when the 12th annual Pepsi Celebrity Golf Shootout visits Buckingham Golf and Country Club.
Daniel Lawrence Whitney (aka Larry the Cable Guy) is the headliner on Friday night as the annual Summerfest Celebration kicks off at the Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa. Friday is also the eve of the Shootout, which pairs 19 former NFL players with amateur foursomes for a scramble golf tournament the following morning at Buckingahm. Tee time for the Saturday morning flight is 8:30 a.m.
“We”re going to see how he does up here at our pee wee golf course,” Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa general manager Greg Bennett said of Larry the Cable Guy. “If he”s putting the ball OK, we might just have him show up and putt the ball and mingle with the crowd (Saturday at the Shootout).”
Even if Larry sleeps in late Saturday, fans at this year”s Shootout won”t be lacking for star power in and around the greens and fairways at Buckingham. This year”s field includes some new blood, including the newest member of the NFL Hall of Fame, Fred Dean, the star defensive end for the San Francisco 49ers on each of their first two Super Bowl teams. There”s also former Oakland and Los Angeles Raiders punter Ray Guy, one of the greatest punters in league history. Defensive back Rod Woodson, who will be taking his place in the Hall of Fame shortly, is also making his Shootout debut as are former Dallas Cowboys kicker Efren Herrera, 49ers receiving great John Taylor, whose last-second catch beat the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl XXIII, former 49ers great Gene Washington, the current NFL Director of Operations, and former Oakland Raider Ben Davidson and his trademark mustache.
“We”re thrilled about the new blood we have coming up here this year,” said Bennett, who launched the Shootout back in 1997 with the help of Buckingham”s PGA director of golf operations, Mark Wotherspoon. “We”re excited to have several Shootout favorites returning. It”s an exciting time no matter if you”re an NFL fan or a music fan. We”re going to have something for everyone between the Shootout and the Summerfest Celebration at Konocti.”
Preparations for the Shootout shifted into high gear earlier this week, though the frantic activity that was part of the first fews Shootouts in the late 1990s has given way to a more smoothly run machine.
“We”re like wily veterans,” Bennett said of the current-day Shootout preparation for staff at Konocti Harbor and Buckingham. “We”ve done it now for 12 years and we”ve got it down pat.”
One thing that hasn”t changed since the inaugural Shootout, which featured former baseball and football stars, is the increased energy level as the tournament approaches.
“It”s a special energy and we look forward to it every year,” Bennett said. “People are excited about the Shootout and Summerfest. It”s the last big blowout before the summer is over and we”re going to send the summer out in style.”
While the Shootout and Summerfest celebration are all about having a good time, Bennett said there are tangible benefits for the community, including an auction on Saturday night that helps fund such worthwhile charities as the Sea Breeze Foundation.
The Pool and Pairings Party on Friday night kicks off the actual Shootout festivities. Golfers find out then which of the 19 NFL stars they”ll be paired with the following day at Buckingham.
The Shootout on Saturday consists of two flights ? morning and afternoon. After the tournament is over, the golfers and NFL stars return to Konocti Harbor for the awards show and charity auction.
Country music star Keith Urban performs on Saturday night at Konocti to cap the Shootout weekend.
Gallery tickets, which cost only $10, and tickets to all other Shootout events, including the Larry the Cable Guy and Keith Urban shows at Konocti, can be obtained by calling 800-660-LAKE.
