The Reagan Open…
how it came to be…
History
The year was 1975 and it was at a birthday party of the patriarch of the Reagan family, Eugene Reagan Sr, that one of the young Reagan clan kept asking “Who is that and how are we related” in regards to what seemed like every person in attendance. That was the spark that started this family tradition.
To say the Reagan family is large would be an understatement. It was so large that there were many family members that didn’t know all the people that made up their extended family. Or they may know they were related but didn’t know how. It was at this birthday party that some of the adult Reagan’s decided that we didn’t want to be the type of family that only saw each other on big occasions like weddings and funerals. We wanted to make sure each generation of the Reagan family would have an opportunity to meet, see, and spend time with their extended family.
It was decided that a yearly golf tournament would take place. The inaugural Reagan Open was played in 1975 with 18 golfers in attendance. Since that first year the event has grown substantially. Now a typical Reagan Open has around 120 golfers which are made up of 5 generations of Reagans as well as family friends. We’ve gone from a few foursomes to having a golf course shut down for our family event.
The day starts with the golf tournament itself. It’s 100+ Reagan family and friends playing golf poorly and drinking beer well. Typical golf etiquette is not enforced. Talking during backswings and yelling from one hole to the next are common place. The combined strokes of golf by the golfers in attendance is only outnumbers by beers drank and laughs had. In other words it’s golfing done right.
Once the golf is over there is a banquet (term used loosely) where everyone really has a chance to visit and catch up. During the banquet there are some trophies and prizes given out as well as a Reagan Open branded commemorative gift.
Probably the most important part of the banquet is when the Reagan Family Bulletin Board is announced. It covers everything from births, deaths, weddings, engagements, graduations, job promotions, retirements, and any major life moment of someone in the family.
One of the many great things to come out of the Reagan Open is that for much of the family it isn’t just a one day event anymore. Yes, the Reagan Open itself is a singular day event but it’s turned into a time where family members come into town for a long weekend and spend time together for the weekend as a whole.
While The Reagan Open is a golf tournament, the day itself isn’t really about golf. It’s about family.
