July golf tournament will take a swing at hunger relief

Steele Canyon Golf Club in Jamul is slated for the inaugural Longball Hard Lemon Iced Tea Golf Tournament on July 19 benefitting Feeding San Diego in a joint press release from Longball and Feeding San Diego. Proceeds from the tournament, silent auction, and raffle will go to the local hunger relief nonprofit that provides food assistance to kids and families during the summer months when kids lose access to school meals. The event coincides with July’s National Make a Difference in a Child’s Life Month.

“The summer is an especially challenging time for people facing hunger because local families cannot necessarily rely on free breakfasts and lunches provided by schools. With inflation as high as it is right now, families’ budgets are stretched with kids out of school,” said Feeding San Deigo Senior Manager of Corporate Partnerships Frances Burnett in a press release. “Feeding San Diego is grateful to Longball Hard Lemon Iced Tea for choosing Feeding San Diego as their charity beneficiary for this new event. They understand the importance of fresh, nutritious food for thriving communities.”

Tina Mickelson, whose brother Phil Mickelson is a three-time Masters Tournament champion and World Golf Hall of Famer, serves in an advisory role for the beverage in the golf space. She is the Director of Women’s Programming and Instruction for the Golf Channel Academy with David Impastato. She also serves as an ambassador for both San Diego’s The Santaluz Club and Carlsbad’s Callaway Golf.

“With the recent excitement from the U.S. Open just up the road in Los Angeles, we thought this would be a great time to officially announce our inaugural golf tournament,” stated Longball CEO Kerin Sovern. “Longball is golf, golf is Longball, and we are proud to partner with Feeding San Diego to celebrate the quintessential San Diego summer activity and raise money for a worthy and timely cause.”

Longball is distilled at ReBru Spirits in Barrio Logan. Longball Hard Lemon Iced Tea has only three ingredients: apple wine, black tea, and lemon with no artificial sweeteners. Sovern said Longball is an “innovative, alcoholic take on the Arnold Palmer.”

The brand has two ready-to-drink 12-oz canned cocktails Longball & Soda and Longball & Soda Double, and they are available at more than 30 golf courses throughout San Diego County. The beverage can also be found at bars, restaurants, and retail locations such as Costco and Total Wine & More.

The tournament is a four-player team scramble beginning at 1 p.m. with a shotgun start. Foursomes are available and can be purchased for $600 ($150 per player). The entry fee includes green fees, cart, Longball swag bags, vendor giveaways, and a one-year membership to Darts Only Golf, a golf social club.

Tickets can be purchased at https://bit.ly/3CKbfoV.