CLEVELAND, Ohio – Matt Kaulig will have his hands full during the annual Kaulig Companies Championship in June. While the tournament is under way on the south course of Firestone Country Club, the company’s partners and associates will be playing on the north course. And Kaulig will play every morning. “There’s nothing more exciting than hearing the crowd across the street and you’re actually golfing at Firestone yourself,” said Kaulig, executive chairman of Kaulig Companies Limited. The annual PGA Tour Champions event is scheduled for Wednesday, June 18, to Sunday, June 22. Wednesday’s press conference formally announcing this year’s tournament was held at Progressive Field; Kaulig is a minority owner in the Cleveland Guardians. “After the last golfer drops the last ball in the cup on 18, we turn the music on,” he said. “It’s a super fun weekend for us.” That fun encompasses music, food and other entertainment. A pro-am is Monday, June 16, and a draft party the following day sets up a larger pro-am preceding the tournament. The Infinity Zone will include the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame stage. Musician Darius Rucker (Hootie & the Blowfish) is this year’s annual ambassador of golf, a title bestowed on someone outside the golf world who promotes the sport. The tournament has managed big names when it comes to the annual ambassadorship, with recent ones being Peyton Manning (2024), Steph Curry (2023) and Condoleezza Rice (2022). “We had fun the last three years,” Kaulig said. “I know we’re going to have fun in years to come.” Tim Clepper, president and chief executive officer of Kaulig Companies Limited, a Rock Hall trustee and always an energetic presence when talking about the golf tournament, said: “We are super pumped.” Kaulig is in the third year of a four-year sponsorship deal that has funneled $1.3 million back to the community. About 400 non-profits have benefited over the past several years, Kaulig said. And via an initiative through Davey Tree, a tree will be planted for every birdie notched during the tournament. The Akron tournament is one of five PGA Tour Champions events, which draw golfers 50 and older. “The players are a little more intense and they want to win it,” Kaulig said. “We’re happy to have Ernie Els back this year.” Els, the defending champion, is one of 20 World Golf Hall of Fame members who have won the tournament in Akron. This year’s field also includes Pádraig Harrington, Vijay Singh, Justin Leonard and John Daly – “never a dull moment with John,” said Don Padgett III, executive director of the Kaulig Companies Championship. Entertainment host Bridgett Linton added about Daly: “He’s a Swiss army knife. You never know if he’s going to come back (after golf) and sing.” If Els, who won his first major on PGA Tour Champions at the Kaulig Companies Championship last year and who first played in Akron in 1992, wins again, don’t expect the obligatory sparkling-wine spray. Els, who has a line of wine in his name, might have more of a discerning palate. “I like to say my own (wine), but it’s tough to get it in distribution,” he said, “But we have a big Bordeaux blend – a five-varietal and six-varietal – any kind of good Bordeaux. I also like Napa Cabernet and I also like Spanish Rioja.” If you go: Kaulig Companies Championship Where: Firestone Country Club, 452 East Warner Road, Akron. When: June 18-22. Field and purse: 78 professional golfers will compete for a share of the $3.5 million purse. The champion earns $525,000. Past five winners • Ernie Els, 2024 • Steve Stricker, 2023 • Jerry Kelly, 2022 • Steve Stricker, 2021 • Jerry Kelly, 2020 History: For list of winners dating to 1983, go to kauligchampionship.com. Entertainment Sunday, June 15 – A Father’s Day 5K is scheduled. Thursday, June 19 - Dance the Night Away with DJ Bobby Booshay, 5 p.m. Friday, June 20 - A Night in Nashville (celebrating veterans and first responders), Conner Smith featuring The Shootouts, 6 p.m. Saturday, June 21 - Rockin’ on the Green: Red Wanting Blue featuring The Michael Weber Show, 6 p.m. Tickets and entertainment details: 2025 Kaulig Companies Championship tickets on sale Television coverage: The Golf Channel. I cover restaurants, drinks, sports-related and other topics on our life and culture team. For my recent stories, here’s a cleveland.com directory. WTAM-1100’s Bill Wills and I talk food and drink at 9:35 a.m. Tuesdays. Twitter and IG: @mbona30. To check out my books, go to marcbona.net. Want to know what’s going on in the weekend? Sign up for cleveland.com’s weekly “In the CLE” email newsletter. Also: Follow @DineDrinkCLE on Instagram.