Saint Andrews Club dropped its affiliation with another charitable event after the 1996 tournament season. At that point Jack Umland, Executive Director of the Saint Andrews Club felt the Club should continue with an event for charity. Don Berry, Director of Golf and playing professional at Edinburgh USA, shared the vision that a Pro Am Invitational was something that would be good for Edinburgh USA and the Saint Andrews Club.
Saint Andrews Club members Ford Droegemueller and Jerry Johnson agreed to financially back this new event. Jack Umland, Saint Andrews Club Executive Director, worked on the organization and administration. Don Berry, Director of Golf Operations and PGA professional at Edinburgh USA assembled the format, worked on tee prizes and took care of getting the states top pros.
Jack and Don initiated it and Ford and Jerry carried the financial ball for the first two years. At that point Ford and Jerry asked to be replaced as tournament co-chairs. They, with the organization of Jack and Don created a solid foundation. Bob Klick, Saint Andrews Club member, a leader known for his sales skills was asked to chair the new Pro-Am. He accepted and with the new expanded tournament committee and board of directors the Pro Am went to a new level.
Mike Eicher and Neil Jensen were the first to come on board. 1999 through 2003 Saint Andrews Club member and Executive Director of the North Heart Center Neil Jensen offered the North Heart Center as Title Sponsor. In the year of 2000 the Pro Am became an official Foundation with 501 (c) (3) status. Also in that year the Foundation added 4 new members. Mike Opat, Ray Bonestroo, Loren Backlund and Mary Shoemaker. Officers of the current Foundation now are Jack Umland Chairman, Mike Eicher Treasurer and Mary Shoemaker Secretary.
It took all of the people above carrying their individual loads at their respective times that made this a team to drive this tournament where it is today. The opportunity continues for this tournament to expand.
The tournament started out in 1996 with a number of smaller sponsors and moved to the North Heart Center as title sponsor in 1999. The Charities were the North Heart Foundation and the Evans Scholarship Foundation. Other major sponsors at that time were Medtronic, Guidant, Elli Lily, Johnson & Johnson, Salser Carbomedics, Leef Services and Galaxy Auto Centers
In 2004 the title sponsor changed to Don Schreifels & Associates (who was the Title sponsor for 4 years). Grand Casino is the Title Sponsor for 2008. The other major sponsors today are Target, Comcast, and Xcel Energy. There are 12 Silver sponsors (see the 'Sponsors' link on the left hand side of this page), and the Bronze or hole sponsors in the Pro Am are nearly all loyal members of the Saint Andrews Club and Edinburgh Men´s Golf Association. Efforts have been made to keep these individuals involved because of their loyalty and sense of commitment.
With the Edinburgh USA foundation now in place, charity and hopefully many less fortunate, will be the benefactors through the donations of large and small corporations, individuals, amateurs and golf professionals.
