POWERGRAMS

35 Those tours and tournaments are the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic in Prattville, the PGA's Barbasol Championship in Opelika and the Regions Tradition PGA Tour of Champions in Hoover. Alabama Power is a major sponsor and hosts the Junior Clinic events at each. Hallman said you can't overestimate the significance of those clinics and the tournaments when it comes to promoting golf in the state. "The junior clinics that Alabama Power sponsors at all of these tournaments have been extremely impactful in helping to grow the game, especially among the disadvantaged who may not have been exposed to the sport otherwise," Hallman said. "I truly believe the clinics break down barriers." Although the clinics offer instruction on the game of golf from professionals, the positive life lessons and the greater awareness of how golf applies to youths are the real benefits, Hallman said. "You can't teach them golf in an hour but you can introduce them to the game and expose them to a potential for greatness," he said. Another important way the tournaments grow the sport in Alabama is through the pro-am events in which local and national celebrities play a round with the golf pros in public. The Regions Tradition Pro-Am always generates national attention because it often includes football coaches from the Southeastern Conference such as Alabama's Nick Saban and Auburn's Gus Malzahn this year. "We have a large number of nongolfers that come out for the tournament, and especially for the Pro-Am, and they see their favorite coach or celebrity playing the game," Hallman said. "A good number of them will take up LPGA players Mariajo Uribe (Colombia), Stephanie Meadow (Ireland), Gaby Lopez (Mexico) and Brittany Lincicome (USA) are introduced to the crowd before the 2016 Yokohama Tire Classic in Prattville. APC employees volunteer at tournaments. Auburn's Malzahn speaks to reporters.

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