The First Annual Groundhog Open is coming to Downtown Fort Wayne on Groundhog Day, February 2, 2012.  The Fort Wayne Downtown Improvement District and the Fort Wayne/Allen County Economic Development Alliance are jointly sponsoring this indoor golf tournament to benefit downtown beautification efforts.

The Groundhog Open will be played on a beautiful indoor 18-hole championship putting course laid out between the Grand Wayne Center, The Embassy Theatre/Indiana Hotel and the Courtyard by Marriott.  The Groundhog Open will feature four flights of golfers, two each around noon time and two more  in the late afternoon,  with closing ceremonies and prizes awarded at 7:15 after the last flight finishes play.  A light lunch and heavy hors d'ouerves along with a cash bar at the start, "halfway house" and the finish will be available to players.

 This unique event will raise funds towards the expansion of the year-round flower planter program (currently located on Calhoun Street between Berry Street and Jefferson Boulevard).  The planters were initially established by the City as part of the 2009-2010 renovations of Calhoun Street, and are maintained by the Fort Wayne Parks & Recreation Department, with support of the Downtown Improvement District.  The extraordinary popularity of the floral streetscapes with downtown employees and visitors has lead to requests for expansion of the planter program.

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