BEDFORD — The 2026 Claude Akins Memorial Golf Classic brought hundreds of golfers to Otis Park Golf Course over Labor Day weekend for four rounds of competition, camaraderie and fundraising in one of Bedford’s longtime community traditions.
The annual tournament, hosted by the Bedford Recreation Foundation, featured its traditional six-person scramble format with Saturday and Sunday morning and afternoon rounds. Registration for the tournament had filled before the event, with organizers also maintaining a waiting list as interest continued to grow.
The 2026 tournament featured more than $30,000 in prizes, including team awards, individual hole contests, hole-in-one opportunities, putting competitions and other special events throughout the weekend.
All prizes can be collected at Indiana Steel, 957 J Street in Bedford. Call Indiana Steel at 812-275-3363 for any questions.
A complete list of the 2026 team winners, including low gross and low net finishes, is included below. The tournament also recognized golfers in a wide variety of individual contests, including longest putts, longest drives, closest-to-the-pin shots and closest second shots throughout all four rounds.
The tournament continues to serve as the primary fundraiser for the Bedford Recreation Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting recreation and community projects in Bedford. The Claude Akins Memorial Golf Classic has raised more than $1.1 million over its history, with more than $825,000 returned to the community through projects and programs.
Proceeds from the event support improvements at Otis Park and other city recreational facilities, youth programs and organizations, including the Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence County and Special Olympics, as well as scholarship opportunities for Bedford North Lawrence High School graduates.
The classic has become a major Labor Day weekend tradition in Lawrence County, drawing teams made up of local businesses, families, friends, and organizations. Its continued popularity also provides an important source of funding for projects that benefit the community long after the final putt drops.
The Bedford Recreation Foundation credited the golfers, sponsors, volunteers, and community supporters who helped make the 2026 Claude Akins Memorial Golf Classic another successful event.
