Golf tournaments — mainly scrambles — are a huge source of charitable fundraising in Rutherford County.
In fact, more than 100 charitable golf events will be held this year, running roughly from March to October.
Possibly the most successful is the John Floyd and Ole South Properties Invitational Golf Tournament, which in the last eight years had netted its beneficiary, the Boys and Girls Club of Rutherford County, a whopping $800,000.
"Normally, we raise over $100,000 each year," Floyd said. "Our net is usually $80,000 to $90,000 after expenses."
All of which is donated to the Boys and Girls Club with Ole South running the entire event.
"Our projection is around $125,000 and $130,000 this year," said Dan Jernigan, chief professional officer of the Boys and Girls Club. "I believe it's one of largest tournaments in the area."
"It has generated over $800,000," he said.
With projected revenue of more than $100,000 again this year, the tournament contributes around 12 percent of the club's annual budget.
"It allows us to be program-based, not fee-based," Jernigan said. Last year, they helped 1,569 children in Rutherford County through various activities, including after-school programs, summer camps and sports leagues.
Floyd's career began in real estate, and he quickly learned that it's easier to sell new homes than older ones. This realization led him to partner with Mike Hudson to form Ole South Properties.
"Over the last 21 years it has grown to quite a pretty good-sized construction company," Floyd said.
That is a modest assessment for Floyd's claim to fame. Over past few decades, Ole South built more than 6,000 homes in Middle Tennessee.
"We build anywhere from 650 to 800 homes a year, and our goal is to continue to do that," he said.
Floyd has also donated lots of time and money to local charities. He created the John D. Floyd Foundation around five years ago, through which he does most of his charitable donations.
"Rutherford County has been real good to me, and I feel that you get what you give," Floyd said.
"Practically since the beginning of my business career, I've been active in various charities here in town, " Floyd explained. "In the mid to late '90s, a golf tournament came up as a potential revenue source for the Boys and Girls Club. I volunteered to run the golf tournament."
More starting times have been planned this year to accommodate additional golfers and raise extra money for the Boys and Girls Club.
The tournament is held at the Indian Hills Golf Club on Calumet Trace. The event consists of three separate tournaments over two days where 108 teams of four compete for prizes, including a chance for a new car. The Patron's Party will be held Friday, May 18 at 7 p.m., honoring those who participate in and sponsor the tournament.
Sponsorship is available at a variety of levels, from Platinum at $5,000, which gives two four-person teams, eight tickets to the Patron's Party and a hole sponsorship, to Bronze at $500, which gives one team. Hole sponsorship is available for $250.
Tickets to the Patron's Party are available for $125 for individuals and $200 for a couple.
The deadline for entry in the tournament is Friday, May 4. Interested parties should contact Joe Morgan at 896-0019 or jmorgan@olesouth.com.
But Floyd doesn't limit his giving to the Boys and Girls Club. He also donates time and funds to other local charities and Murfreesboro City Schools.
"We've been involved with Special Kids for years — The Hope Clinic. The United Way. It's a long list of charities that we're involved with. That's kind of what we do," he explained.
"His involvement has allowed Special Kids to continue providing services to children with special needs all throughout Middle Tennessee," said Meredith Edington, director of major gifts at Special Kids, Inc.
Last year he gave $10,000. His donation helps more than 180 children who need speech therapy, Edington explained.
"He has such a giving heart," she said.
Others who benefit from Floyd's philanthropy share that sentiment.
"He is very, very, very generous," said Cheryl Harris, Murfreesboro City Schools Foundation coordinator. He donated the money to start the foundation, which aids city schools by funding projects that cannot be funded through traditional means.
"He supports our schools in so many ways," Harris continued. "Not only does he contribute, but he also participates and cares."
"We're real active in schools," Floyd said. "Mainly, schools that we have developments in their areas."
These include Scales, Barfield and Cason Lane Elementary Schools and Blackman and Oakland High Schools.
"We're doing a big charitable project with Oakland," the OHS graduate explained. "Ole South is heading up the building of a vocational building at Oakland High School to get vocational training back in the high schools."
"I think we are so fortunate to have John," Harris concluded. "He genuinely cares about the community and making it a better place."
"With success comes responsibility," Floyd said, explaining his philanthropy, "and I think that responsibility in the community is where it starts."
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