No Better Way to Raise Money than a Day on the Course

The 18th Annual John Davis Golf Classic, a fundraiser for Georgia Mountain Hospice, Inc., granted 31 four-person teams a day of golf, food, and prizes at Bent Tree Golf Course in the beautiful North Georgia Mountains in Jasper, Georgia. The tournament was founded in 1992 by John Davis, a former offensive lineman with the Buffalo Bills during their four years in a row attendance to the Super Bowl in the early 90's. Many contributors make the tournament possible like the Diamond Tournament Supporter, The William Evelyn Hice-Griffin Foundation, which supports education and animal protection organizations.

After Davis wanted to honor his mother Jewell, the first tournament was started in 1992 to fund the opening of Georgia Mountain Hospice in 1993. Davis said he recognized the hardships she faced in taking care of her own mother Flora with Alzheimer's. Since he's a former Gilmer Bobcat from Ellijay, it made the most sense to help with this startup that serves residents of Cherokee, Pickens, Gilmer, Fannin, Union, Murray, Gordon, and Whitfield counties, also serving parts of adjacent Bartow, Dawson, and Forsyth counties. John, his wife Hester, and three of his four children interacted with the players, and many, like the Davis', are Georgia Tech Alumni.

Although there was a stint of rain mid-day, it was a perfect summer day in the mountains with no shortage of wildlife. Volunteer Mary Ghorley, from Piedmont Mountainside Hospital, had a bear run out in front of her on the course, and players always need to watch for deer hazards. In past years, the tournament has been at other locations throughout North Georgia, but Davis is pleased with Bent Tree and plans bring it back there.