As the sun rose on Friday morning, August 30, 132 women from over 20 countries took to the course at South Bend Country Club to compete in round one of the 13th annual Four Winds Invitational, a highly anticipated event sponsored by The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi and its Four Winds Casinos. This golf tournament is part of the Epson Tour, the qualifying tour for golfers who want to move on to the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour.
Beyond the excitement of the competition, the event serves a greater purpose – all proceeds go to Beacon Children’s Hospital. Over the past 12 years, the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi and its Four Winds Casinos have donated nearly $1,000,000 to Beacon. These funds have allowed Beacon to purchase life-saving equipment such as a pediatric ambulance, a MedFlight incubator and ultrasound, Giraffe warmers and more. This year, the proceeds will go toward acquiring 20 new feeding pumps for the NICU.
Greg Helmkamp, general manager and head golf professional at South Bend Country Club, reflected on the beginning of this annual fundraiser.
“For 13 years the Pokagon Band and its Four Winds Casinos has been working with the LPGA to host this golf tournament and help raise money for Beacon Children’s Hospital,” Helmkamp said. “The funds help them improve their services and offerings. Hearing the stories of the families impacted by what Beacon Children's Hospital provides is truly amazing.”
At the South Bend Country Club, the Four Winds Invitational is a highlight of the year for its staff, providing an exciting break from the norm.
"During the summer, we often get into a routine with our regular member tournaments and day-to-day activities, so this event brings a nice jolt of energy,” Helmkamp said. “It changes things up. We're dealing with more vendors, and the public is welcome to come out and watch. It’s special to welcome them to a place we get to see every day, which is a beautiful piece of property. Building relationships with the LPGA’s Epson Tour staff over the years has been great. It’s like a family reunion — each year, they come back for a week, and then we won’t see them again until the next year. This change of pace is something we really look forward to."
Helmkamp also noted the increase in member participation as enthusiasm for the event continues to grow.
“Our members’ support and involvement are the biggest changes we’ve seen in hosting over these four years,” Helmkamp said. “They’ve come to understand and fully support the event, whether it's housing the players for the week, volunteering, or even caddying."
Helmkamp expressed gratitude for being chosen to host the tournament once more, as he felt it was a testament to the trust placed in South Bend Country Club and its facility.
“It means a lot that we were chosen to host for our fourth year,” Helmkamp said. “These are some of the best women golfers in the world, and they need a golf course that can challenge them. Being the place they chose for that is pretty special.”
As each athlete prepared to tee off, anticipation grew for the competitive days ahead. Golfers, staff, and volunteers alike were enjoying this memorable outing.
For more information about Four Winds Casinos, visit fourwindscasino.com.
