In an effort to promote health and wellness, as well as bring a slice of championship golf to the desert and instill the idea of participating in improving the quality of life, the PGA along with Humana has partnered with the Clinton Foundation to present the recently baptized Humana Challenge.
Formerly known as the Bob Hope Classic, the Humana Challenge spanned 9 days, from January 14-22, with a series of events scheduled in conjunction with the participation of the 42nd President of the United States, William J. Clinton. With a new trophy, a new format and a new name, the Humana Challenge took place at the PGA West Golf Club in La Quinta, CA, and engaged players, spectators and viewers in a variety of activities and events that revolved around around the theme of life. wellness
On Saturday the 14th, the event kicked off with the Humana Wellness Walk along the Bear Creek Trail along with a Healthy Fun Fair held in Palm Desert, featuring a series of interactive activities as well as valuable health and wellness information. . Sunday brought the Humana Farmer’s Market in Old Town La Quinta, where I was able to sample some of the delicious vegetables and fruits that line the streets and share a few friendly words and smiles with the large gathering of food seekers. The festivities continued on Monday with spectators invited to come out to one of the three courses and watch some practice rounds from the pros or watch the Bob Hope Legacy Pro Am held at the private PGA West Nicklaus course.
Tuesday featured the inaugural breakfast at the La Quinta Chamber of Commerce followed by the Clinton Foundation Conference with the keynote speaker being former President Bill Clinton with the theme of Enabling Wellness in Every Generation. Then it was time to play golf.
Beginning Thursday, professional golfers including Phil Mickelson, Greg Norman, Anthony Kim, David Toms, Stuart Appleby, Justin Leonard, David Duval, Rich Been and defending champion Jhonattan Vegas played alongside celebrities including Alice Cooper, Morgan Freeman, Billy Crudup , Michael Bolton, Smokey Robinson, Don Cheadle and legendary basketball hall of famer Julius Erving, better known as Doctor J.
The four day tournament played the first three rounds in a pro-am format. Each team consisted of one professional and one amateur who played in groups of four, with amateurs competing in daily and general competitions.
The final round was for professionals only. The size of the field expanded 16 professional spots from the previous format, making it 144 professionals along with 144 amateurs. The number of courses used in rotation was reduced from four to three. Those three were La Quinta Country Club, PGA West Nicklaus Private and PGA West Palmer Private. So, along with the golf action that took place throughout the week, the Humana Challenge featured a series of activities that were designed to play a key role in how we all strive to live healthier lives.