Whirlpool donates $1 million to Benton Harbor youth

It’s not every day a $1 million check is donated to help youngsters. It’s not every day four golf legends take to the course at the same time with that same goal.

That day was Aug. 10 when the Golf Club at Harbor Shores celebrated its grand opening in Benton Harbor.

Jack Nicklaus joined his friends Johnny Miller, Arnold Palmer and Tom Watson to commemorate the opening of the 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course. The Harbor Shores Champions for Change Golf Challenge featured the foursome competing in an 18-holr skins format.

More than 3,600 spectators witnessed the big day in golf that got under way with an announcement from Whirlpool Corp. CEO Jeff Fettig. The company will give $1 million in honor of the four players to the Boys and Girls Club and The First Tee organization both of Benton Harbor.

“The golf course has been many decades in the making in terms of transforming the industrial base in the community into something very productive,” said Fettig. “I can’t think of a better group of people, the four legends of golf, we had here today to kick it off.”

The four players took to the course for its ceremonial first round in a rotating two-man skins format with partners switching every six holes. “I thought the golf course was in fantastic condition,” said Nicklaus. “The golf course was quite good and I’m quite proud of it. I’m also proud that I was asked to be a part of this project.”