ClubCorp partners with Muscular Dystrophy Association to raise funds to support ALS research initiative and more than 100 nonprofit groups

ClubCorp, The World Leader in Private Clubs, announced today that it is hosting the third annual ClubCorp Charity Classic in partnership with the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). This event is the world's largest multi-site charity golf and dining event, with participating clubs teeing up across the country from California to New York.

In the past two years, the ClubCorp Charity Classic has raised more than $3 million from participating members and guests who have numbered more than 20,000 annually. This year, over 120 of ClubCorp's private country clubs, golf clubs, business clubs and sports clubs will open their hearts and doors with the single-year goal of hosting over 25,000 participants and raising over $3 million. Events will include activities such as golf tournaments on over 2,000 holes of golf, tennis tournaments, culinary demonstrations, and silent auctions all designed to enable participants to enjoy time with friends and family while raising funds and increasing awareness for participating charities.

"I'm grateful to ClubCorp for continuing this tradition for the third consecutive year," said Augie Nieto, who along with his wife, Lynne, co-chairs MDA's ALS Division. "The ClubCorp executive team, staff and members are all making a huge difference in the fight against ALS. We are closer than ever to a cure, and we thank ClubCorp for its dedication and continued support."

"In a time when people might expect us to cut back on hosting charity events, we are leveraging the momentum we have gained from the previous two years to reach for a much higher level of giving," stated Eric Affeldt, ClubCorp's president and CEO. "For many charities, a down-turn in the economy often coincides with a downturn in charitable giving. Since the needs of our charity partners have not declined, ClubCorp is excited to raise our fundraising targets this year in support of these important initiatives. This commitment is directly inline with our organization's mission of building relationships and enriching lives and we could not be more excited to enter our third year."

Funds raised from the 2009 ClubCorp Charity Classic will benefit Augie's Quest, MDA's ALS research initiative; ClubCorp's Employee Partners Care Foundation and over 100 local nonprofit groups selected individually by participating clubs.