The Bob Hope Classic : A Dream Pairing!

What’s your dream foursome? At Smathers and Branson we spend almost as much time developing new products as we do wishing we were on the golf course. This weekend marks the most cherished celebrity golf tournament of the year, and dream pairings will be seen left and right. Since 1960, the Bob Hope Classic has been pairing celebrities, sports stars, professional and amateur golfers for five days of competition and good times. At this California venue, one is just as likely to see an exploding golf ball a la Bill Murray, as they are to see a hole in one from past champions like Phil Mickleson.

Named for the late Bob Hope, a renowned entertainer and avid golfer, this tournament transcends the game of golf and encourages even the most casual fan to watch. Whether hoping to see Kevin Costner’s real life Tin Cup moment or simply watching how Samuel L. Jackson, Luke Wilson, and Padraig Harrington interact, the Bob Hope Classic has something for everyone.

This year, Smathers and Branson is excited to be a part of the Bob Hope Classic. On the first day of play, celebrities and tournament officials are given a gift on behalf of the tournament sponsors. In 2010, the gift of choice was a customized Smathers and Branson needlepoint belt with the Bob Hope Tournament insignia! We want to thank everyone at the Bob Hope Classic for thinking of us, and we are thrilled at the possibility of some of the world’s biggest stars wearing our product!

One of the reasons Bob Hope loved his tournament was because he could pick his own foursome. Having played his way down to a four handicap, Hope was not bashful with his pairings and in 1995 he was seen on the links with Presidents Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Gerald Ford. It is up for debate as to which member of that power foursome had the honors on the first tee! Luckily, those upholding the legacy of Bob Hope have honored his affinity for a dream pairing, by pairing a Smathers and Branson belt with any outfit on the course.