First Annual Ernie Johnson Memorial Golf Tournament

Until his passing in 2011, Ernie Johnson, Sr. was a resident
and member of the Polo Golf & Country Club where he was an avid golfer. Before his retirement, Ernie spent six decades in baseball, as a player and then broadcaster. He started in the minors in 1942 and, after three years serving his country in the U.S. Marines, Ernie moved up to the Major Leagues as a pitcher for the Boston Braves. Ernie achieved his greatest fame by calling play-by-play for the Atlanta Braves games and was there in the broadcast booth to announce the record-breaking home run of his former teammate, Hank Aaron. Generations of fans grew up listening to the “Voice of the Braves,” whether locally on their car radios or on national television on the TBS Superstation.

Friends of Ernie’s in the Polo Golf community would now like to remember him annually through the “Ernie Johnson Memorial Golf Tournament.” 

Our first annual tournament is scheduled for Nov. 5, at the Polo Golf & Country Club. This event will include an 18-hole scramble, raffles, silent and live auctions and an awards dinner. Ernie’s son, Ernie Johnson, Jr., has followed
in his father’s footsteps in the broadcasting field and currently broadcasts golf for ESPN and is a co-host on TBS’s NBA pre-game show. Ernie, Jr. will be participating in this tournament and numerous other celebrities have also been invited to participate.

Ernie always had a passion for fighting cancer as he had been touched so closely by it – not only is his wife a cancer survivor but Ernie, Jr. and one of Ernie’s daughters are as well. Because of this, Ernie’s family has asked that proceeds of this tournament benefit the American Cancer Society.

YOU can help honor Ernie and fight cancer by participating in this tournament ($150/person or $500/foursome), by being a tournament sponsor or by donating an item for our auctions or raffles. And, of course, we will always accept cash donations. Every dollar raised for the American Cancer Society is a strike against cancer.  Every dollar brings hope; hope for education to prevent cancer and provide for early detection of cancer; hope for patient services to diminish suffering in cancer patients; hope for cancer research; and hope for cancer patients and their families.

For information about this event, please contact the Polo Golf & Country Club pro shop at 770-887-4049.