Late last year when worked leaked out that Harrisburg was getting a Duramed Futures Tour tournament, the actual site for the event was still
a work in progress. About a month later, the tournament committee announced Felicita Gardens and Resort would be the site for the first year. There were other courses in the mix during the negotiation process, until Harrisburg attorney Richard Angino made an offer nobody could resist. Angino gave his course up for a week at no charge. And he didn’t blink when asked. “It happened very quickly. I received a telephone call from Elaine Konkle, who is on the board for The First Tee,” Angino said. “She said ‘Richard, we love your golf course and here is the situation …’ She asked if I would be willing to let them use our golf course. I said yes as soon as she called.” The Pennsylvania Classic is August 21-23 at Felicita. The First Tee of the Susquehanna Valley is running the tournament and is the sole charity that benefits from the dollars raised. First Tee aims to enhance the lives and character of young people through exposure to golf.
In terms of dollars saved, according to First Tee executive director Joe Nehila, the tournament was expecting to pay from $30,000 to $40,000 to rent a course.