The inaugural Keep Hampton Roads Beautiful Golf Tournament is only weeks away, and event organizers have just the ticket for golf enthusiasts who have yet to sign up for the Oct. 13 event to benefit local environmental awareness programs. Visit askHRgreen.org/free-golf-tickets-contest and register by Sept. 30 to win a $700 prize package that features tournament play for four and a "Go Green" package that includes a mulligan, raffle ticket and contest entry for each player.

askHRgreen.org, the local go-to source for all things green, and Keep Virginia Beautiful are sponsoring the event at the Greenbrier Country Club in Chesapeake to raise awareness about the importance of recycling and beautification in the 17-city/county Hampton Roads region. Each player will enjoy 18 holes of golf, cart, range balls, beverages, prizes, an awards dinner provided by Outback Steakhouse---and the good feeling that comes from playing for a good cause.

 "Funds raised from the tournament will support local litter prevention, waste reduction, recycling, beautification and overall environmental education programs that will inspire residents to be more mindful, green stewards," said Julia B. Hillegass, team leader of askHRgreen.org. "There are little things we can do that make a big difference, such as filling up our recycling containers, taking our used plastic bags to the grocers for recycling and keeping our public spaces litter-free."

In keeping with the theme, tournament organizers are taking steps to ensure that the tournament is easy on the environment. Recycling stations will be located throughout the course and leftover foods will be composted. In addition, the Keep Hampton Roads Beautiful Golf Tournament will be a "bottled water free" event. Tournament players will receive reusable water bottles to fill up at stations placed in the club and throughout the course. 

Day-of registration begins at 10 a.m., followed by tournament play at 11 a.m. and an awards dinner from Outback Steakhouse at 4 p.m. To inquire about sponsorship opportunities, email Julia Hillegass at info@asKHRgreen.org or call (757) 420-8300. For tournament details and to register online, go to www.askHRgreen.org/golf.

askHRgreen.org is your go-to resource for all things green in Hampton Roads- from recycling tips and pointers for keeping local waterways clean to water-saving ideas and simple steps to make local living easy on the environment. Launched in 2011, the region-wide public awareness and education campaign is administered through the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission and powered by the following members: The cities of Chesapeake, Franklin, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Poquoson, Portsmouth, Smithfield, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, and Williamsburg; the counties of Gloucester, Isle of Wight, James City, Southampton, Surry and York; and HRSD. Like askHRgreen.org on facebook, follow on Twitter, tune in to YouTube and catch the "Let's Talk Green" blog, written by a team of local experts. 

Keep Virginia Beautiful (KVB) is a 501(c)3 non-profit charitable organization with the mission of engaging and uniting Virginians to improve our natural and scenic environment. KVB's focus areas are litter prevention, waste reduction, recycling, beautification and environmental education with the overall goal of creating vibrant communities. Recent initiatives include their 30 in 30 Grants, increasing recycling in our State Parks as well as partnering with askHRgreen.org for the National Kick Off of the Great American Cleanup.