The snow has finally vanished and the beautiful sunrise on the dewy grass of Marquette’s premier golf course has many anxious to get their turn on the challenging 18 holes.

The Blueberry Classic will take place on Friday, July 26. This event, which is the third annual, is held at Marquette’s golf course and is an event for all ages.

The event is non-competitive and for all different skill levels. Each participant pays $75 to enter. Teams of four are also allowed to enter the event at the cost of $300 per team.

Northern Michigan University will use the proceeds to help support students in a variety of difficult situations. NMU development officer Mary Crampton said this event helps students who may not have the financial ability to pay for certain incidents.

“The event raises funds to support NMU students who face unforeseen financial hardships that are not covered through traditional financial aid,” Crampton said.

Some of the hardships covered through this fundraiser are car repairs, medical expenses and child care.

“In the past two years over $41,000 has been raised,” Crampton said. “An endowment fund is being created as a result of the success of the event.”

Although the event is for a good cause, there will also be prizes awarded to the winner in each division. There will be a men’s, women’s and mixed-group division. The prizes are yet to be determined. The event will take place during Marquette’s annual blueberry festival.

“The Blueberry Classic is a different kind of golf outing that will appeal to competitive, occasional, social and novice golfers alike,” Crampton said.

Along with the blueberries, this event will also have a variety of foods and beverages. Each dish and beverage being offered will have a blueberry infused idea behind it. For example, Asian blueberry meatballs, crab cakes with sun dried blueberries and blueberry corn quinoa salad.

The fundraiser offers other events for those who are not the golfing type.

Besides golfing, there will be other activities attendees can enjoy such as golf cart decorating and chair massages.

The golf outing will also allow members of the community to meet NMU staff and faculty. Associate director of the Blueberry Classic John Frick said the event will be a really fun day of golf for everyone involved.

“The golf is not all that competitive,” Frick said. “It’s fun to be out on the course helping to raise funds for a good cause.”

Frick has been involved with the Blueberry Classic since it started three years ago, though Frick only began participated in the Classic for the first time last year.

“This year I’ve rounded up a team of friends from the Chicago area,” Frick said. “We’ll be on the course on July 26 helping to raise funds for student scholarships.”

However, Frick admitted he is nothing more than an average golfer but that it’s not about winning. Instead, the event is about raising money for a good cause.

“It feels good to know that my participation is helping to raise money and that it supports scholarships that support NMU students,” Frick said.

The Blueberry Classic will take place on Friday, July 26 at the Northern Michigan University Golf Course located on 125 Chocolay Downs Golf Drive just off of M-28.

For more information, you can contact the NMU Golf Course at (906) 227-3111.