The 2024 HMGT is scheduled for September 25th (Wednesday) through September 28th (Saturday)
Please find below the countdown to the 2024 Heroes Tournament
Dear Friends,
We had a perfect and wonderful 2023 Heroes Memorial Golf Tournament (HMGT) celebration. I want to thank everyone who participated in making this experience so unforgettable. Your efforts to travel and attend this great event were above and beyond. Our weather and course conditions were perfect. We can only hope that our HGMT 2024 will be as wonderful. New St. James resident Chuck Arnone was the Champion Golfer for 2023. Tom Galligan received the “so close” trophy. Team Wunk (Tom and Jeff W, Roger Main, and Jeff Snyder) won the HMGT Team Scramble. Congratulations to them all!
ONE MONTH UPDATE. Dear Friends, We’re one month away from the 2024 Heroes Memorial Golf Tournament (HMGT) at St. James Plantation, NC. This year the tournament will be held from September 25th through 28th, 2024. Friday the 27th is a free evening night. Sunday the 29th is your travel day home. Great efforts are now being made by event Chairperson’s to make sure the party is an absolute success as always.
This year Heroes Honorees are Barbara Gregory and Doctor Gerald John Scallion.
American Legion Post 543 UPDATE
I encourage you all to visit our Heroes Memorial Golf Tournament Web Site for the attendee’s list for each event and Tee Sheets for the Competitive/Scramble golf rounds. I also wanted to remind you about the Saturday Team Scramble event. For the Scramble at the Players Club, we have added Mulligans for sale. Kathy Savastana is our Chairperson and will be selling the Mulligans with Jeanne Orlando at the elcome Reception. A single Mulligan can be purchased for $10, or you can get three for $20 ($20 maximum per person). The proceeds from the sales will be donated to the American Legion Post 543 and the US Secret Service Association. We are also hoping to have raffle items available. We would greatly appreciate any person(s), business, or organization who wishes to donate prizes to our raffle. Please contact me or any other HMGT coordinator. Please pass this information along to anyone I may have forgotten or who has interest in joining this great event.
Please check our website for more details at https://heroesmgt.com.
Event #1
HMGT Welcome Reception at Woodlands Park Wednesday, September 25th at 5:00 pm.
The HMGT 2024 Golf Tournament Welcome Reception Coordinators Liz Ventura and
Margaret Regan have been working once again with Mission Barbecue to cater our Wednesday, September 25th, 2024 opening event.
Beer, water, and iced tea will be provided. Please BYO wine or BYO your drink of choice. Beer, water, and iced tea will be provided.
Event Coordinators: RECEPTION ATTENDEES
Liz Ventura and Margaret Regan
Location: Woodlands Park St. James Plantation, 2623 Parkridge Drive, NC 28461
Cost: $26 per person includes tax and gratuity. Children16 and under $12.50
Payment:
Mail/Deliver: 4491 Lenox Court, Southport, NC
28461-4200. Check should be payable to Margaret Regan
Contact Liz or Margaret if you plan on attending this event no later
then September 1st. Email for Questions: m.s.regan53@gmail.com
lzvent02@verizon.net
Event #2
2024 TEE SHEETS
HMGT Thursday and Friday Competitive Golf at St James Plantation September 26th
and 27th, 2024. TBD golf courses will be used for this event.
Tony Savastana is our coordinator and contact for this event, working with St. James
Tournament Director, Cole Grammen.
Tony S will coordinate all your requests regarding tee times, final scheduling, special
play with requests, and all other matters or concerns you may have.
All participants must have a verifiable golf handicap (GHIN handicap is preferred).
Handicaps will be adjusted from your tee’s of choice. Tournament rules will be provided.
Send Tony S your handicap.
Contact Tony S if you want to play in the competitive rounds, with a verifiable handicap.
Plan for this great event. The HMGT Competitive Golf Championship Trophy
The presentation will be made at the banquet Saturday evening.
Event Coordinators: Tony Savastana
2023 Champion Golfer Chuck Arnone
Location:
TBD St James Plantation course’s
Cost: St. James guest fee’s apply to non-members, ($60) per round, payable each day in the
pro shop. Additionally, a $20 prize fee from each competitive round golfer payable on
September 26th to Tony S.
Contact Information:
Tony Savastana; email address
asavastana@verizon.net; telephone number (202) 441-7432
Event #3
HMGT Thursday Evening Dinner September 26th at 6:00 pm. Once again
Mr. P’s Bistro, 309 N. Howe St, Southport, NC 2846, is the restaurant choice
for this event. The restaurant owner and the Caruso’s will select a special menu for the
dinner. Each guest will be responsible for the cost of their dinner selection. Please
send an RSVP to Kathy or Rich Caruso that you will attend no later than
September 1. MR. P’S ATTENDEES
Event Coordinators:
Kathy and Rich Caruso. Contact Information:
kathycaruso424@gmail.com or
rwcaruso4@gmail.com
Location: TBD
Reservation Required:
Cut off date for reservation commitment September 1.
Event #4
HMGT Saturday Scramble at St James Plantation, TBD course, September, 28th.
Greg Regan is our coordinator and contact for this event, working with St. James
Tournament Director, Cole Grammen.
Greg R will coordinate all your requests regarding teams, times, final scheduling,
and all other matters or concerns you may have.
The scramble teams will be selected by Greg R using a draw of single players
based on handicaps. They will be paired with any husband and wife teams and
other scramble golfers to make up each foursome. Meet new friends.
You must contact Greg if you want to play in the scramble event. Plan ahead
for this great event. Event Coordinators: Greg Regan
2023 Team Championship Tom and Jeff Wunk, Roger Main, and Jeff Snyder
Location:
TBD Course St. James Plantation
Cost: St. James guest fee’s apply to non-members
Contact Information: gjregan@gmail.com. (410) 533-5645
Event #5
The HMGT 2024 Golf Tournament Banquet Coordinators Eileen and Al Gillis
have been working with St. James Catering to once again to provide a five
star evening dining experience. We all join together to honor are Heroes and
remember there lasting legacy. BANQUET ATTENDEES
HMGT Tournament Banquet is September 28th at 6:00pm. Competitive round
Champion Golfer and Scramble Team Champions for 2024 will receive their
trophy and prize money. Also, raffle ticket winners will be announced,
so buy them up. When sending your check please select your item for dinner from the menu below
and note when sending to Al Gillis.
Menu
$51 per person, includes tax and gratuity
Ice Tea and Coffee Station
Freshly Baked Bread and Whipped Butter
First Course
Small baby kale and arugula salad tossed with dried cranberries, carrots, cucumbers,
parmesan cheese, sunflower seeds and champagne dressing
Second Course-Entrée selections
1. Roasted Gnocchi with butternut squash, roasted mushrooms and sage butter sauce
2. Chicken Florentine, pan-fried with creamy béchamel sauce and spinach, served with
garlic mashed potatoes and herb butter roasted broccoli crowns
3. Maple and Garlic honey glazed Salmon served with roasted parmesan carrots and rice
pilaf with almonds and sweet peas
4. Marsala Short Ribs with marsala mushroom sauce served with garlic mashed potatoes
and green beans with brown butter and almonds
Dessert
Swiss Chocolate and Cream cake with berry coulis, grand mariner whipped cream
Other Menu:
$10 per child – Kids Menu Option: Chicken Tenders with French Fries
Event Coordinators: Eileen and Al Gillis
Location: The Members Club, 3719 Members Club Blvd., St. James, NC, 28461
Cost: $51 person includes tax and gratuity
Payment: Mail/deliver: (with dinner selection noted)
3559 Chinquapin Ln, Southport, NC 28461.
Check should be
payable to Al Gillis by September 1st
Contact Information:
algillis53@gmail.com and efgillis4@gmail.com.
Al Gillis cell: 703-206-8922
Places to Stay
St. James Rentals – telephone number (910) 253-4734. Rental units are located on
the Plantation at The Club Villas, HarborWalk, Marsh Winds, and Shipwatch.
Price’s vary based on the space needed. Please call for information
Vacation Rental By Owner (VRBO) and Home Away – both have properties available
during our time period. Search St. James, NC; Southport, NC (10mins); Oak Island,
NC (15 mins); and Holden Beach, NC (30 mins). All are excellent living for your stay.
Southport Hotels
Fairfield Inn and Suites Southport
5181 Southport Supply Rd., SE
Southport, NC 28461
(910) 454-0016
$132 per night
Hampton Inn and Suites Southport
4820 Port Loop Rd.
Southport, NC 28461
(910) 477-9830
$135 per night
Holiday Inn and Suites
3400 Southport Supply Rd.
Bolivia, NC 28422
(910) 253-9100
$142 per night
Wingate Hotel
1511 N.Howe St,
Southport NC 28461
$122 per night
Comfort Suites
4963 Southport/Supply Rd.
Southport, NC 28461
$110.00 per night
We look forward to seeing you all. Start your planning and send in your checks for the
opening evening Woodlands Park Barbecue.
Contact Tony Savastana (Competitive 2 Rounds) and Greg Regan (Team Scramble) golf.
Notify to reserve your seats for the Caruso’s for Thursday evening dinner at Mr. P’s.
Finally, attend our Heroes Honoree Banquet Saturday night at the Members Club by
sending your check to Al Gillis and selecting your dinner item.
The HMGT has raised over $6000 that we have given to the Tunnels to Towers and
the US Secert Service Association for their charitable endeavors over the past three
years. Prize donations from you all are placed in our raffle and awarded to raffle
ticket purchasers at our Saturday evening Heroes Banquet at Members Club.
We graciously ask any of you or person’s you may know who would like to make a
prize donation that we can use for our raffle. Please call me, email, or reach out to
any of our committee coordinators with our kind donation.
2023 HEROES TOURNAMENT PICTURES
The Kiely Golf Tournament has been with us since 2008 when Jim Kiely, a retired US Secret Service (USSS) Special Agent (SA) living at St. James Plantation, banded together with other USSS/SA’s retirees and friends to play the first Kiely Golf Tournament. Jim was our first Champion.
In 2012, Jim passed away and the golf tournament he started was named in his honor. The Kiely Golf Tournament continued growing as the retired/working residents in St. James joined the fun from diverse backgrounds (US Military, Federal/State/local government, business professionals). This group developed friendships, rekindled old associations, and shared their passion for golf while enjoying family events surrounding this golf weekend celebration.
In January 2017, former USSS/SA John Gregory, who lived in St James and loved the game of golf, passed away suddenly. It was only fitting to change the name to The Kiely/Gregory Golf Tournament and honor both fallen heroes. In 2022 we lost another hero, USSS/SA Tom Brancaccio. As we move toward 2023 the golf tournament continues to grow and develop. Many hero families, from states across this country, come to enjoy St. James, visit friends, enjoy the surrounding area, and play golf at our Memorial event. Our new name will be the Heroes Memorial Golf Tournament. I hope you embrace the name change and we all work together to continue to honor and support our heroes who gave and continue to give, making this special event a success year after year.
