Grapes on the Green is one of Four Winds Casinos’ best annual events. Attendees were invited to take a tour around South Bend Country Club’s golf course while tasting food and wine from local vendors.
With the Four Winds Invitational beginning on Friday, August 12, Grapes on the Green also kicks off an exciting weekend at South Bend Country Club.
The invitational is on the Symetra Tour, the official developmental tour of the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour. That title means that golfers who join the Symetra Tour can later compete in the LPGA Tour. The Four Winds Invitational has been on this tour since 2012.
“The Symetra has become a passion,” said Bill Panzica, senior vice president and development manager at Panzica Building Corporation. “After my first year of sponsoring, I signed up to be a host family for the tournament and my wife and I hosted three ladies. Out of the girls that we’ve had, three of them are currently LPGA players on the tour.”
While the Four Winds Invitational has been on the Symetra Tour for a long time, Grapes on the Green is a newer tradition.
“We first got involved with the Symetra about six years ago by sponsoring a pro-am team, but we were involved with the first Grapes on the Green about four years ago,” said Panzica. “Beacon Health System is one of our clients, and they came to us with this idea and we decided to sponsor it. The first year we did really well, but since then we have sold out every year.”
Grapes on the Green is a way for people who do not golf to still experience the golf course. Rather than playing on each hole, there are different foods and wines provided by local vendors, including focaccia bread provided by Victorian Pantry Bistro and Catering and dessert parfaits from chefs at Four Winds.
“The main goal of the Invitational and Grapes on the Green is to raise as much money as we can for Beacon Children’s Hospital,” said Tiana Burgeson, director of marketing operations and player development at Four Winds Casinos. “Every year we have the invitational, and a few years back we added this event to be able to raise more money for the hospital.”
Beacon Health System will use these funds for its children’s hospital. The goal is to acquire a quad cab NICU for safer transport of premature infants and the specialty team who cares for them.
“The proceeds go to Beacon Health System and this money goes into the same pool as the Four Winds Invitational,” Panzica said. “Since they started the invitational, I believe they have raised about $700,000 for Beacon. This event probably brings in $20,000 to $25,000 every year.”
The benefits for Beacon Children’s Hospital are amazing, but the Invitational and wine event serve the community and beyond.
“At Four Winds, we think it’s important to participate in the community,” said Burgeson. “We appreciate everything the community has done for Four Winds Casinos, so we try to give back however we can. By bringing all of these players and sponsors together, we are bringing in more people for the local hotels and restaurants. This is also a way for us to help upcoming female athletes while they try to get on the LPGA Tour.”
For more information about Four Winds Casinos’ events and the Four Winds Invitational, please visit www.fourwindscasino.com.
For updates on the Four Winds Invitational 2021, check out www.symetratour.com/tournaments/four-winds-invitational/leaderboard.