Hank Adler is among the best-known leaders...

Hank Adler is among the best-known leaders of the Toshiba Senior

Classic, though he’ll be quick to say he’s not alone at the top.

Adler, and others, have helped turn the annual Champions Tour stop at

the Newport Beach Country Club into the tour’s top fundraising event,

with major proceeds going to Hoag Hospital. As the gear-up for the

March 14-20 tournament hits its full swing, Adler fielded a few

questions from Pilot Editor Tony Dodero.

Who came up with the idea of using the Toshiba Senior Classic as a

fundraiser for Hoag Hospital?

Success has many authors. Hoag Hospital successfully operated

two-day, pro-am golf tournaments for almost 25 years at Newport Beach

Country Club before becoming associated with the Toshiba Senior

Classic. The original Hoag tournament was the “Little Crosby” because

of the relationship of Charlie Hester and Marshall Duffield with Bing

Crosby. The event morphed into the Newport Classic in the middle ‘80s

after the death of Bing Crosby. Beginning in 1991, Taco Bell

sponsored the event for five years, and it was called the Taco Bell

Newport Classic. This event was a phenomenal success both

artistically and financially for Hoag Hospital and included events

such as fundraising dinners for 1,500 people, featuring Ray Charles

and Huey Lewis and an event including both a carnival midway and a

rock ‘n’ roll party for 2,000 in the blimp hanger in Tustin. In 1996,

Taco Bell had a management change and elected to no longer

participate in the event. Simultaneously, Toshiba parted ways with

the outside management team, who had been operating the Toshiba

Senior Classic.

Given Hoag’s successful history with its previous golf tournaments

and its long-term relationship with the people at Bay Clubs

International, Hoag was contacted by the PGA Tour and Toshiba about

becoming the beneficiary and operator of the Toshiba Senior Classic.

How does the money help Hoag?

Over the years, the proceeds of the tournament have benefited many

different Hoag Hospital priorities: Cancer Center, emergency room and

Women’s Center (under construction).

How much has been raised so far in the tournament’s history?

During the eight years with Hoag Hospital, the tournament has

earned a smidgen under $8 million. I would estimate that the Toshiba

Senior Classic and its predecessor events have raised about $10

million for Hoag, but that is an honest guess.

What has it meant for you to see this grow so big?

For all of us, the literally thousands of volunteers over the past

many years, it has been rewarding to see so much money raised by

friends of the hospital and to see, over time, hundreds of thousands

of people enjoy the event.

Tell us about some of your favorite moments in the tourney’s

history?

Answer: I’ll give you a few.

Several years ago, Gary McCord and Johnny Jacobs, two of the great

characters on the planet Earth, and longtime close friends, engaged

in a nine-hole playoff. Watching these two friends giggle their way

through that playoff with great showmanship was as good as it gets.

Every trophy presentation with 1,200 volunteers and the skyboxes

packed.

Just getting to meet Hale Irwin, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and

Tom Watson.

Getting to spend two days every year with Don Kennedy, the

chairman emeritus of First American Corporation. Last year, he shot

his age on the second day.

Who deserves the credit for the success?

Everyone and no one. Throw in Toshiba; our platinum sponsors

Emulex, Wells Fargo, The Register and Southern California Cadillac;

our breakfast sponsor Allergan; a couple dozen other great Orange

County companies; Hoag Hospital; the Orange County community; 1,200

volunteers; Bay Clubs International; and the Senior PGA Tour. Mix

carefully, add Jeff Purser, our tournament director and his team, and

you have a great tournament.

What additions or growth to the tournament do you hope to see in

the coming years?

When you see the boys trying to make a hole in one from the top of

the Marriott on Tuesday morning of the tournament, you can just

assume that the Toshiba Senior Classic will always be a little bit

more fun than the immediately preceding year.

Tell us about the various fundraisers related to the tournament.

The entire week is one integrated fundraiser:

Monday: one-day Pro-am. Tuesday: Allergan breakfast at the Bay

Club followed by the Top of the Marriott Skydiving and Closest to the

Hole Contest. and Pro-Am draw party. Wednesday: day one of the

two-day pro-am. Thursday: day two of the two day pro-am. Thursday

evening: awards party. Friday: day one of the professional

tournament. Saturday: day two of the professional tournament and

Wells Fargo youth clinic. Sunday: final day of the professional

tournament followed by the awards ceremony and volunteer party.

Other than that, a fairly quiet week.