We had a special night Jan.21 at the Alabama Theatre thanks to Mystical Golf and the Claude Pardue family. Mystical Golf is made up of three Myrtle Beach golf courses, the Witch, Wizard and Man O’War and owned by Claude Pardue.
Every winter, Claude Pardue has a concert with big guest stars in a benefit for the Pardue Family “Children in Need” Fund. The benefit, along with some golf courses’ benefits the rest of the year, provides funds for kids from across the region from orphan homes, and moms and children from shelters for battered women, to have outings to movies, Family Kingdom and many others.
This year’s special guest performers were Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr., two of the original members of the 5th Dimension. I first saw these fantastic performers over thirty years ago when I worked for the Riviera Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. They were the headliners in our main showroom along with the Solid Gold Dancers. The performance brought back a lot of memories when they played their hit songs such as “You Don’t Have to Be a Star (To Be in My Show), “Aquarius”, Wedding Bell Blues”, Stoned Soul Picnic”, “One Less Bell to Answer”, ”Up, Up and Away” and “(Last Night) I Didn’t Get to Sleep at All’. The concert also included a fantastic tribute to The Beatles and some great blues by Billy Davis Jr. After all these years they are still unbelievable entertainers.
The mission statement for the “Children in Need” Fund is “Providing Joy to Kids with Little Joy in Their Lives”.
The concert is not the only fundraiser. This past year the 11th Annual Christmas Child Golf Tournament was held on the Saturday before Christmas. Other fundraisers include donations from golf courses in the area which set up collections where food, used golf headcovers, gloves, putters, etc. are collected and donated. People buy them and drop a few dollars in the donation bin. The Man O’ War golf course started this, six or seven years ago, and it has spread to other courses. Golf clubs are donated from all over the beach from people and golf courses.
The foundation is grassroots with no staff, everything is volunteer, and has developed a network of support. The community does a great job supporting the foundation as well as the many local businesses.
The Myrtle Beach area is so fortunate to have such community minded people such as Claude Pardue and Mystical Golf. Their dedication and commitment to helping others is so admiral and an example of the many great charitable benefits that the Myrtle Beach golf community provide.
Many thanks again.
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