The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians and its Four Winds® Casinos are pleased to announce a series of events and activities that will take place during the week leading up to the 2015 Four Winds Invitational. Events include the Four Winds Invitational 5K Run & Fun Walk, a Daddy-Daughter Pro-Am, Golfing on the Gridiron, the Birdies and Bogeys Beerfest, and Family Fun Day. The Four Winds Invitational will take place from Friday, June 19 through Sunday, June 21 at Blackthorn Golf Club in South Bend. The Four Winds Invitational is part of the Symetra® Tour — Road to the LPGA®.

Four Winds Invitational 5K Run and Fun Walk

The second annual Four Winds Invitational 5K Run and Fitness Walk will be held on the cart paths of Blackthorn Golf Club on Sunday, June 14. The starting point is at 3575 Moreau Ct., which is the back entrance to Blackthorn Golf Club. The 5K Run will start at 8 a.m. and the Fitness Walk will start at
8:05 a.m. The Fitness Walk is non-competitive and will not be timed. Participants will receive a goodie bag, including an official t-shirt. There will also be post-event snacks and festivities. All proceeds from the 5K Run and Fitness Walk and the golf tournament will be donated to Memorial Children’s Hospital.

Participants can take advantage of early bird registration through Saturday, June 13 and sign up for the 5K Run for $25 or the Fitness Walk for $20. The cost for late registration is $30 for the 5K and $25 for the Fitness Walk. Those that register late are not guaranteed a t-shirt. Pre-event packet pick-up and late registration will occur at Blackthorn Golf Club’s clubhouse from noon to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 13 and on Sunday, June 14 from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. Participants can register at: runsignup.com

Daddy-Daughter Pro-Am

A nine-hole Daddy-Daughter Pro-Am is scheduled for Monday, June 15. This is a unique opportunity for fathers to play a round of golf with their daughters along with an LPGA professional. The event includes lunch at noon followed by a shotgun start at 1 p.m. An ice cream reception will follow the Pro-Am. All attendees will also receive a gift bag. The cost per two-person team is $100. Teams can register at blackthorngolf.com.

Golfing on the Gridiron

Golfing on the Gridiron will take place from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 17, at the College Football Hall of Fame Gridiron in downtown South Bend. The event is free and will include a meet and greet with several of the athletes playing in the Four Winds Invitational, children’s games and races, kids’ interactive golf activities, face painting, balloon artists, and other live entertainment. Children will also have the opportunity to make arts and crafts for children at Memorial Children’s Hospital and practice fire safety with South Bend firefighters. Golfing on the Gridiron is sponsored by DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in South Bend, which will also provide cookies and lemonade. More information is available at www.blackthorngolf.com.

Birdies and Bogeys Beerfest

The Birdies and Bogeys Beerfest will be held from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 20, during the second day of the Four Winds Invitational. Various local restaurants and breweries will be set up along the golf course for beer tasting. Tickets are $25 per person which includes samples of over 30 different craft brews and free admission to the tournament. Food will be available for purchase. You must be 21 years old to attend. Tickets are available at blackthorngolf.com

Family Fun Day

Family Fun Day will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 21. Free hot dogs, ice cream, golf games, and other family activities will all be available at the Blarney Hole, which is located on the practice hole adjacent to the 10th tee.

The Four Winds Invitational was established in 2012 as part of the Symetra Tour — Road to the LPGA (www.symetratour.com), and is sponsored by the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians and its Four Winds Casinos. It is held at Blackthorn Golf Club, located at 6100 Nimtz Parkway, South Bend. The tournament features a field of professional women golfers from around the world. More information is available at: www.fourwindsinvitational.com.