The John Deere Classic is preparing to celebrate the Fourth of July in 2025 and planning another “great celebration” that salutes the Quad Cities’ rich military history during the PGA Tour JDC event that will run from June 30 to July 6, 2025.
“The 2025 date announcement was what we were expecting, so no surprises on our end,” JDC Tournament Director Andrew Lehman said in an email to the QCBJ today, Aug. 15. “2024 was the first time we’ve held a tournament over the 4th of July holiday, but we were pleasantly surprised with the turnout throughout the week and all the wonderful military and first responder activations we were able to host.”
The 2024 JDC tournament play kicked off on the Fourth of July. That day, Moline-based John Deere and the USO celebrated military service members who keep the nation safe. It included unveiling a new partnership to support their transition into civilian life. Deere & Co. also committed $100,0000 over the next two years to assist the USO in its critical work of strengthening the wellbeing of America’s military members and their families.
The 2024 tournament hosted its first-ever Folds of Honor celebration on Friday, July 5, at TPC Deere Run in Silvis. Folds of Honor is a leading non-profit organization that provides educational scholarships for children of fallen or disabled American military service members and first responders.
Veterans and active military personnel will once again be spotlighted at next year’s JDC.
“In 2025, our Folds of Honors Friday will fall on the 4th of July, which should result in a great celebration of military and first responders again and we will be using the next several months to start planning for that,” Mr. Lehman said.
“It was truly rewarding to celebrate our community’s rich military presence and history throughout tournament week with special ticketing programs, special guests and Folds of Honor Friday and we are looking forward to growing those experiences in 2025.”
Birdies to wrap up 2024
As the JDC plans for next year’s tournament, the JDC Birdies for Charity program also has some unfinished 2024 business. In October, the program will announce how much money was raised for Birdies during the 2024 JDC.
The 2023 tournament set a new record with $14.1 million raised through Birdies, and it broke the previous record of $13.9 million set in 2022.
Also in October 2024, Birdies for Charity will discover the winner of a two-year lease on a new Lexus provided to the JDC by Smart Lexus of Quad Cities, Davenport.
The vehicle is reserved for the Birdies for Charity donor who is closest to choosing the correct number of Birdies recorded at that year’s JDC. “We actually have two correct guessers of 2,315 (birdies), so it will make for a bit more interesting giveaway,” Birdies for Charity Director Micaela Booth told the QCBJ.
The giveaway will be held at the John Deere Pavilion in downtown Moline after the 2024 charity announcement and check distribution. The Birdies winner whose key starts the Lexus is traditionally the winner.
