![The Claw course at the University of South Florida is hosting a charity golf tournament to benefit veterans. [Times file]](https://www.tampabay.com/resizer/v2/the-claw-course-at-the-university-of-BLFOZSWIPEI6TNW2PAY4DVT77I.jpg?auth=2672325bc8f7e0c2fdc7e8e750380611cd2daa45fc07bde0fa3c21db92bd3500&width=426 "The Claw course at the University of South Florida is hosting a charity golf tournament to benefit veterans. [Times file]")
I quit playing golf a long time ago. Don't have the time, money or patience.
Fortunately for several military charities every year, I am in the minority. Here's a rundown of a couple of upcoming tournaments.
On Monday, Billy Casper Golf is hosting the seventh annual World's Largest Golf Outing. According to organizers, the event aims to be "the biggest golf event held on one day for with a purpose to make a significant impact in the lives of our nation's veterans and communities across the country."
This year, Fisher House Foundation and Arnie's Army will receive proceeds.
In Tampa, the event will take place at The Claw golf course at the University of South Florida. In Pinellas, it's at the Dunedin Stirling Links.
Fisher House Foundation, best known for its network of 71 comfort homes where military and veterans' families can stay at no cost while a loved one is receiving treatment, has served more than 305,000 families since its inception.
Both the James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital in Tampa and the C.W. Bill Young VA Medical Center in St. Petersburg have Fisher Houses with another on the way at both locations.
Fisher House Foundation and President Dave Coker recently announced they will be opening nine new homes to veteran's families this year. As Fisher House continues to grow and support families, "they need the support from the community and organizations like WLGO will help continue in their mission," according to a news release for the tournament.
Registration in Tampa is at 7:30 a.m. and the event begins at 8:30 a.m. In Dunedin, the times are 9 a.m. and 10 a.m.
The cost is $236 for a foursome, $118 for a twosome and $59 for a single.
You can register online atworldslargestgolfouting.com.
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Stetson University College of Law is holding the third annual Sgt. Jessie Davila Memorial Classic Golf Tournament on Saturday to benefit a scholarship for veterans and the St. Petersburg Vet Center.
The golf tournament begins at 11 a.m. at the Belleview Biltmore Golf Club, 1501 Indian Rocks Road in Belleair.
Alumnus Javier Centonzio established the Sgt. Jessie Davila Memorial Scholarship Fund to honor his friend Jessie Davila, a U.S. Marine who was killed while deployed with the National Guard in Iraq. The scholarship is for veterans who want to pursue a law degree but have exhausted all of their educational benefits in pursuing an undergraduate degree. All proceeds from the golf tournament support the scholarship.
To learn more and to sign up for the golf tournament, visit the Sgt. Jessie Davila Memorial Classic Golf Tournament page on Facebook.
•••
The Pentagon announced no new troop deaths in ongoing operations last week, but on April 10, Air Force Staff Sgt. Curtis John Gardner, 29, of Tampa, was found dead in his residence at Incirlik Air Base in Turkey. The cause is still being investigated.
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Explore all your optionsThere have been 2,347 U.S. troop deaths in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan; 34 U.S. troop deaths and one civilian Department of Defense employee death in support of the follow-up, Operation Freedom's Sentinel in Afghanistan; 30 troop deaths and one civilian death in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, the fight against the Islamic State; one troop death in support of Operation Odyssey Lightning, the fight against Islamic State in Libya; and one death under classified as other contingency operations as part of the global war on terrorism.
Contact Howard Altman at haltman@tampabay.com or (813) 225-3112. Follow @haltman
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