Bob Hope Classic Golf Tournament

Arnold Palmer and Bob Hope win the 1962 Palm Springs Classic. Originally, The Classic's name was the Thunderbird Invitational back in 1950; in 1965, it's named the Bob Hope Classic.

Bob has his name attached to the famous event for 52 years and hosted the event for 40 on the first tee announcing the start to the Tournament and roasting all in attendance no one escaped Bob’s wrath. Phyllis Diller would join him on occasion at the first tee.

Hope knew what people wanted to see and that was entertainment and quality golf. Throughout the years, many celebrities took to the field to add to the showmanship of the game. Clint Eastwood makes light of going down the fairways with his daughters cock-a-to on his shoulder.

Celebrities that have been amongst the fun at the Classic in the past are, Jackie Gleason, Kirk Douglas, Jack Benny, James Garner, Alice Cooper. Justin Timberlake, Creech Marin and Yogi Berra are among some of the celebrities in the last few years. Of course, the names could go far down the page.

One of the highlights of the Bob Hope Classic must have been when Bill Clinton played the Tournament while he was still in office. Adding in George W.H. Bush and Gerald Ford, you have a game of Presidential proportion, being the first time three presidents have ever played together in a PGA event.

In 1965, Bill Casper won the first Classic, while Dwight Eisenhower watched on Bill knocked in a 3-foot birdie on the 90th hole winning a whopping 15,000 dollars. Mr. Eisenhower was quoted saying, “That last putt was a real knee-knocker”. From the start of the game, the Hope Classic attracted some of the most important people in the country.

This year will be no different in attracting big names in both the celebrity world political and the golfing world. Bill Clinton will once again take the field along with Morgan Freeman two of the 144 PGA professionals that have signed on, Bill Haas and Phil Mickelson.

Bob Hope past away in 2003 at the grand age of 100 years, Bob gave golf legacy that will be hard to match. I can only begin to imagine all the great times that they had in the grand ole days of the Classic.

The Winner of the Humana Challenge will take home 900,000 dollars this year amongst the 5 million dollar purse. Along with the “Bob Hope Trophy” in Honour of the man that gave so much to the game.

A Quote from Bob Hope “Golf is my profession. I tell jokes to pay for my green fees”.