The Bolts hit the links once again for a great cause.
The team hosted its fifth annual Los Angeles Chargers Invitational, presented by Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) on Monday. The event, which benefits the Chargers Impact Fund, was held at Rolling Hills Country Club.
Current players, Chargers Pro Football Hall of Famers and other participants of the event mingled in the morning before they teed off and got together for a good time, and most importantly, for a great cause.
"The most important thing is for people to enjoy themselves and but also we try to raise as much money as we can," Chargers Owner and Chairman of the Board Dean Spanos said. "It's all going to be put back into the community for different events we have throughout the year. The goal is to get it bigger and bigger."
The event has become a staple for the Bolts every year, as it brings coaches, staff and players together and helps the Impact Fund continue to help the community.
"To have the staff, coaches and players come out for the Impact Fund and this golf tournament means a lot because we began this foundation as part of our grandparent's philanthropic legacy," Chargers Impact Fund Special Advisor Adrianna Cox said. "It just furthers and strengthens this legacy for us and it's very meaningful to support what we have done in the past and continue supporting underserved communities, youth and show that the Chargers are here in LA and everyone is family."
Check out current and former Chargers players, coaches and celebrities participating in the 5th Annual Chargers Invitational Golf Tournament, presented by CHLA, at Rolling Hills Country Club
It was the third straight year of hosting the event since its return in 2022.
The event continues to get bigger year by year, as the growth has been apparent in the amount of support the Impact Fund has received.
"Every year it gets better and better," Chargers Vice President of Community Relations Heather Birdsall said. "We have more people coming today. There's a ton of support from the organization, Coach [Jim] Harbaugh, ownership, lots of players and coaches here today so every year it gets better and better."
Birdsall added: "When we first started it, the team was relatively new to the area and then we had COVID. We weren't really sure how it would go but like I said, we're oversold this year, so it's been a lot of great support from everyone."
The tournament brings the past and the present together every year.
And one of those on hand again was Chargers Pro Football Hall of Famer Dan Fouts, who has participated in the event over the years and echoed the sentiments of its growth.
"It seems to grow each year, it gets better and better. It impacts more people," Fouts said. "And I think that's part of our responsibility as players and former players to support these types of events. And when you tie it together with the Chargers, for me, it's a perfect deal."
There were also a number of current members of the Chargers who golfed on Monday including Head Coach Jim Harbaugh, Justin Herbert, Derwin James, Jr., Josh Harris, Morgan Fox and others.
Not only does this event give them a chance to spend time together raising money for a good cause, it allows them to spend some time bonding with one another on the links as well.
"It's definitely a win-win just to be with the guys away from football," Harbaugh said. "We have a ton of fun when we're together in football meetings and [on] the practice field. Now we're together for a great cause."
This year's event included a twist to the format inspired by Harbaugh. There were two ways to win this year — in a team scramble format and in the individual portion.
The team scramble took place in the first 13 holes, where groups of five played the best ball and the team with the best score won. But after hole No. 13, it broke into an individual competition.
On the 14th hole, a player advanced if they shot a double bogey or better. Golfers then needed a bogey or better on the 15th hole while the requirement to advance past the 16th hole was at least par. The same was true on hole No. 17, with the 18th hole serving as the final round.
This new format to the event is what Harbaugh has been playing for about eight years and brought out a new competitive edge to the tournament.
"Competitors welcomed to the 2024 Chargers Golf Tournament," Harbaugh said with a smile before the event.
Linebackers coach NaVorro Bowman's team won first place in the scramble portion of the tournament, with Fox's team coming in second.
Harris, Chris Rumph II and Deane Leonard were among the final golfers left but came up just short of an individual win, which was claimed by 23-year-old Campbell Norris.
"Any time you can support a great cause that does so much, especially across Southern California, the Chargers are really good about pushing forward, it's great," Fox said. "It helps you get to golf and be with your friends, but raising awareness for a great cause and supporting it is worth it every time."
The annual event continues to become a mark of the offseason heading into training camp but most importantly, continues to helps connect and give back to the city of Los Angeles.
"It's awesome. It's fun to be out here," kicker Cameron Dicker said. "I think it's really cool the Chargers do this and it's just a good time for guys to get together, meet with other people. It's always nice you can attach things everybody likes with good causes as well."
Fox later added: "Any time you can bring the guys together, kind of get us moving in the same direction, competing a little, laughing, being around each other, it's a great building block moving forward towards the season."
