DETROIT – Whether you’re a passionate golf fan or someone who loves the excitement and energy of a major event, there will be plenty for everyone to enjoy at the golf course and beyond during Detroit’s inaugural Rocket Mortgage Classic.
The first PGA TOUR event ever to be held in the city of Detroit will bring some of the world’s best golfers to the historic Detroit Golf Club (DGC) from June 25-30, but the week will be about much more than birdies and bogeys. An eight-day festival of fun and unique events will celebrate the people, places and spirit of Detroit from the fairways and greens at DGC to the streets of downtown.
“The Rocket Mortgage Classic will feature more than just the action between the ropes, but will also extend throughout the grounds of the Detroit Golf Club and across the City of Detroit,” said Jay Farner, CEO of Quicken Loans. “This experience shines a national spotlight on the city, and we want to ensure the entire community has the opportunity to take part and celebrate its first PGA TOUR event.”
The historic Detroit Golf Club will welcome ticketed fans beginning with player practice rounds on Tuesday, June 25 and the Delta Dental Pro-Am at the Rocket Mortgage Classic on Wednesday, June 26. The 72-hole tournament starts on Thursday, June 27, and concludes on Sunday, June 30.
“We are looking forward to showcasing the many great things happening in Detroit and at the Detroit Golf Club,” said Jason Langwell, Executive Director of the Rocket Mortgage Classic. “Our goal is to make this a week that Detroiters mark on their calendars each year because they know whether they’re attending an event downtown or taking in amazing golf action at the course, they’re going to make sure they’ll be attending the can’t-miss event of the summer.”
Sunday, June 23, will bring two exciting events to downtown Detroit as tournament week gets set to tee off.
The Rocket Mortgage Classic 5K Race will give local runners and walkers the chance to pound the pavement in downtown Detroit with a fast 3.1-mile round trip along the Detroit International River Walk, starting and finishing at the Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority. The race, which starts at 8 a.m., will be open to runners and walkers who register.
After the race, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m., the Rocket Mortgage Classic Detroit City Series presented by Cadillac, Official Vehicle of the City Series, will give fans the chance to virtually play the Detroit Golf Club’s 15th hole in Cadillac Square. Using an OptiShot Golf Simulator, fans will experience how they would fare on the challenging 160-yard par-3 hole during the Rocket Mortgage Classic. There will also be an appearance by a PGA TOUR player during the event.
All fans attending the Rocket Mortgage Classic will be able to participate in a variety of experiences in addition to watching the best golfers in the world test their games at Detroit Golf Club. One of the largest fan zones on the PGA TOUR will take over the DGC members’ driving range and an adjacent hole from the North Course that won’t be in play for the tournament.
Fans will find the Rocket Mortgage Shot for Heroes, where each attendee can step up to the tee and attempt a pitch shot for a chance to win cash and other prizes while also raising money for charity. For each participant, Rocket Mortgage will make a charitable donation to raise money for the Community Solutions “Built for Zero” initiative, continuing the company’s dedication to military veterans. In total, this activation has raised $1 million for military charities over the last four years.
Fans will also be offered kids activities, from face painting and pizza making, to mini golf and building a Lego golfer, in the Rocket Mortgage Classic Learning Lab powered by CDW and Acer. Unique food and drink options will be available throughout the course, with summer lounge areas offering a great place for fans to take a break and enjoy the atmosphere of the Rocket Mortgage Classic. Various interactive exhibits such as swing analysis, ball fitting and more will be included in the fan zone.
Special post-round entertainment will give fans reason to stick around after play on Friday and Saturday evenings during tournament week. Once the final putt drops, the back patio of the LendingTree Lounge behind the 16th green will be transformed into Chase Live @ The Rocket Mortgage Classic – a rocking live music venue that is not to be missed. The venue will be open to all LendingTree Lounge ticket holders and Chase Sapphire card members, which is the Official Credit Card of the Rocket Mortgage Classic.
On Friday, June 28, American country singer Willie Jones will perform a unique acoustic set alongside a DJ. Having first risen to prominence as a contestant on FOX’s singing competition “The X Factor,” the Empire Records artist released his first single, “Runs in Our Blood,” last May and is set to drop his first EP and begin touring this year. He’ll be followed Friday by a performance from guitarist and singer Laith Al Saadi, a finalist on NBC’s “The Voice” who artistically blends blues, soul and classic rock. A product of the University of Michigan School of Music, he has worked with musical legends Luther Allison, Buddy Guy, Son Seals, Gregg Allman, B.B. King, Aretha Franklin and Paul Rodgers, and recently opened for Bob Seger.
Saturday, June 29, will feature an upbeat and lively performance from Morris Day and The Time. With an eclectic blend of soul, funk and rock, the band’s members – including Morris Day, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis – have collaborated with some of the biggest names in music, from Prince to Janet Jackson. The group is beloved for its popular tracks “Jerk Out” and “Jungle Love.”
“Whether you get fired up by long birdie putts or just like socializing with friends over a few great cocktails or making pizza with your kids, there’s something for everyone to enjoy,” Langwell added.
Ticket prices start as low as $10 for daily grounds passes at the Donald Ross-designed Detroit Golf Club. Admission is free for up to four kids with a ticketed adult and is complimentary for active and retired military members during all four days of tournament play. A list of remaining ticket packages is available exclusively atRocketMortgageClassic.com. Access to private and shared hospitality must be purchased separately by emailing sponsorship@rocketmortgageclassic.com.
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About the Rocket Mortgage Classic
The Rocket Mortgage Classic will make history in 2019 as the first PGA TOUR event ever held in the city of Detroit. Scheduled for June 25-30 at the historic Detroit Golf Club, the tournament will feature 156 of the world’s top players competing for a $7.3 million purse over four days and 72 holes. Embodying the spirit of Detroit, the week-long event will also feature great entertainment, cuisine and social activities on and off the course. The Rocket Giving Fund is the primary charitable beneficiary of the tournament and will support many local charities. More information is available atRocketMortgageClassic.com and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@RocketClassic).
About Quicken Loans / Rocket Mortgage
Detroit-based Quicken Loans is the nation’s largest home mortgage lender. The company closed nearly half a trillion dollars of mortgage volume across all 50 states from 2013 through 2018. In late 2015 Quicken Loans introduced Rocket Mortgage, the first fully digital mortgage experience. Today, 98% of all home loans originated by Quicken Loans utilize Rocket Mortgage Technology.
Quicken Loans moved its headquarters to downtown Detroit in 2010. Today, Quicken Loans and its Family of Companies employ more than 17,000 full-time team members in Detroit’s urban core. The company generates loan production from web centers located in Detroit, Cleveland and Phoenix. Quicken Loans also operates a centralized loan processing facility in Detroit, as well as its San Diego-based One Reverse Mortgage unit. Quicken Loans ranked highest in the country for customer satisfaction for primary mortgage origination by J.D. Power for the past nine consecutive years, 2010 – 2018, and also ranked highest in the country for customer satisfaction among all mortgage servicers the past five consecutive years, 2014 – 2018.
Quicken Loans was once again named to FORTUNE magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” list in 2019 and has been included in the magazine’s top 1/3rd of companies named to the list for the past 16 consecutive years. In addition, Essence Magazine named Quicken Loans “#1 Place to Work in the Country for African Americans.”
Source: Rocket Mortgage Classic