BEDFORD — The Bedford Recreation Foundation has announced that registration is officially open for the 2026 Claude Akins Memorial Golf Classic, scheduled for Labor Day weekend at the Otis Park Golf Course.
The annual tournament will take place across four rounds on Saturday, September 5, and Sunday, September 6, with daily tee times scheduled for 7:00 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. Organizers are urging teams to register early, noting that available slots historically fill completely by the deadline.
The entry fee is $75 per player. Teams can consist of up to six players. Male golfers aged 65 and older are permitted to play from the white tees with age verification. Registration forms and payments must be submitted by August 10, 2026, to the Indiana Steel & Engineering Corp. in Bedford.
Participants can also pre-pay for special tournament features, including the “Roll 4 Red” and “Par 3 Mulligan” contests for $15 per team, or the “Try for Dye” contest for $10 per player. If an entire team enters the “Try for Dye” contest, they earn the advantage of hitting their second shot from a designated fairway area roughly 175 yards from the green.
More than $30,000 worth of prizes will be awarded over the weekend, featuring a variety of weekend grand prizes, hole-in-one prizes, a putting contest, and a weekend Par 3 shoot-out. Food and refreshments will be provided on the course during each round.
The event serves as the primary fundraiser for the Bedford Recreation Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Over the past 30 years, the tournament has raised more than $1.1 million and donated over $825,000 back to the community.
Bedford Recreation Foundation Board of Directors:
- Tommy Elliot, President
- Joey Elliot, Claude Akins Memorial Golf Classic Chair
- Holly Davis
- Misty Adams
- Jimmy Jones
- Jesse McKee
Last year’s tournament set a record with 672 golfers and raised more than $60,000. Proceeds from the event fund local recreation projects and city parks, supporting initiatives such as the Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence County, local Special Olympics, BNL High School golf teams, and extensive renovations at Otis Park.
Area businesses and individuals can also support the event through three sponsorship tiers: the $600 Patron level, the $175 Hole level, and the $60 Prize level. All sponsorship forms must also be returned by the August 10 deadline.
For team registration, sponsorship opportunities, or general inquiries, community members can contact Joe S. Elliott or Tom Elliot at 812-275-3363.
