Pink on the Links Event this Friday

It’s Tournament Week for the Fort Smith Classic, and many festivities are taking place all around the Fort Smith area. One noteworthy event is the second annual Pink on the Links. It is slated for Friday, June 18 and will aim to raise awareness about breast cancer in support of the Ozark Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the Donald W. Reynolds Cancer Support House, according to Alesia Davis, chairwoman of the Pink on the Links event.

Pink on the Links debuted last year and was quite a unique addition to the PGA’s Nationwide tour, according to Daelene Brown, tournament coordinator. It even won “Best Practice on the Nationwide Tour” honors, which made history last year as the first time in PGA tour history a day was dedicated to breast cancer awareness, according Patricia Brown, executive director of the Fort Smith Classic and a five-year breast cancer survivor.

Pink will be both the theme and color of the day on Friday and “Prettiest Pro in Pink” and “Prettiest Caddy in Pink” awards will be given to Nationwide tour professionals.

“And John Daly will be in his pink as well,” said Davis. She expects around 500 women to attend the Pink on the Links event.

The Pink Zone will provide a variety of health, beauty, sports and fun items to women who visit, a Fashion Show and Luncheon will be held, and a scavenger hunt will take place around the golf course. Later in the evening, a Pink Par-Tee will be held downtown.

Organizers hope not only to raise awareness about breast cancer but will also serve as a day of education and activities both on and off the golf course that will appeal to female golfers and non-golfers alike.

Davis said, “It should have a wide range of appeal for women. You don’t have to be a golfer in order to come.”

The day will also honor breast cancer survivors, and some of these women will even serve as volunteers during the event, Davis added.

Pink on the Links will begin at 7 a.m. with a ceremonial tee-off, which unifies volunteers and serves as a reminder of the purpose of the day while also encouraging each other in their work to fight breast cancer, according to Davis.

From 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. the Pink Zone, set up in Hardscrabble’s indoor tennis facility (a.k.a. the 19^th Hole), will offer four areas of education and fun for women. The Pink Zone’s Health Zone will supply breast health information from local healthcare providers, the Beauty Zone will house professionals providing manicures, massages, and makeovers, the Sports Zone will feature a showcase from Academy Sports containing women’s sports gear and team opportunities, while the Fun Zone will house Best Buy employees offering hands-on tutorials for technological gadgets.

From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., a buffet lunch will be served as guests watch the “It’s In The Bag” fashion show featuring breast cancer survivors as models or those modeling on behalf of a family member with breast cancer. The show will display ensembles created around a handbag. Tickets to the Pink Zone are $25 and include lunch, a Pink on the Links t-shirt and entrance to the health fair. The health fair, lunch, and fashion show will all be inside so attendees can stay cool.

During the Scavenger Hunt, participants will obtain clues from the four, par 3 holes on the course. Once they have documented their visits to the holes on the course, each woman will be entered into a drawing for a Coach handbag.

The Pink on the Links event will close with the Pink Par-Tee at 8 p.m. at Neumeier’s Rib Room & Beer Garden (817 Garrison Ave.) and will feature the music of the Klocks. Admission to this event is $10 per person.

Proceeds from the Pink on the Links event benefit the Ozark Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the Donald W. Reynolds Cancer Support House, Davis said.

“It is an outstanding event being held at an excellent venue that showcases our local merchants and community resources. We want to get people out and have a wonderful time to support these wonderful causes,” Davis said.