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During March, we are celebrating our partners who are going the extra mile for our planet and no one fits that description better than the awesome folks at Living Lands & Waters! Chad Pregracke, 2013 CNN Hero of the Year, and his crew and over 130,000 volunteers have removed over 13.2 MILLION pounds of trash from our waterways, educated nearly 28,000 students and they will plant their 2 MILLIONTH tree this spring!

On that note about the trees, the John Deere Classic is thrilled to be partnering with LL&W to donate 1,929 trees this spring, in conjunction with Earth Day. 1,929 was the number of Birdies scored at the 2023 John Deere Classic and we can’t wait to find these trees homes and get them growing! Living Lands & Water’s “Million Trees Project” started back in 2007. The trees have been planted in 25 different states so far. LL&W planted their 1 millionth tree back in 2016, out at the Riverdale schools in Port Byron, IL, where it continues to flourish today. In 2024, 170,000 trees were distributed and they are no plans to stop at 2,000,000! If you are interested in getting involved with the tree program, click here.

In addition to the Million Trees Project, the Living Lands & Waters crew is fresh off an amazing spring break run, where they teamed up with college students to clean America’s waterways in what they call, “Alternative Spring Break“. They bring students from across the country to McKeller Lake in Memphis, TN for 3 weeks. Students traverse on foot and in boats working alongside the crew at LL&W and live the barge life while making a difference, cleaning up waterways.

And because that’s not enough, the LL&W team is setting up a brand new Headquarters off the Mississippi River in East Moline at Beacon Harbor, which is where the new Classroom Barge will be docked as well. On the barge, they will be unveiling a new program called “Over the Levy” where the crew exposes youth to what life on the river could look like for them, sharing 30 different river-related career paths, from marine biology to canoe guides. And guess who they have the support of in this new endeavor? Everyone’s favorite dirty job guy – Mike Rowe! it should come as no surprise that Mike sees the value in what Chad and co. are doing at LL&W, and we can’t wait to find new ways to partner and support the great work they are doing for our country and our community!

If you want to know how you can get involved, check out their website and volunteer opportunities here.

Stay tuned for more information on our Tree Donation project with Living Lands and Waters, and in the meantime, pick up that trash!

It’s no secret (in our opinion) that John Deere is the greatest title sponsor on the PGA TOUR, but what many people might not know about is John Deere’s concerted effort to be a leader in the technology and sustainability spaces.

John Deere’s efforts can be seen throughout a number of their divisions and product lines but today, let’s focus on the following:

  • Small Ag & Turf – Electrification
  • Connect, Guide & Manage
  • Results

John Deere’s goals have always been to make the world a better place and help the people and planet prosper: “Our customers’ work spans the globe. So, ours does, too. Whether we’re helping farmers put food on tables or construction crews build the roads that connect us, John Deere is working for every person on the planet, even as we work for the planet itself. From a battery electric backhoe that eliminates tailpipe emissions to a more intelligent sprayer that reduces herbicide use while saving farmers time and money. That’s how we all prosper.”

Small Ag & Turf – Electrification

John Deere Z370R

The Small Ag & Turf Division has committed to delivering a fully-electric option in each Turf product family. New turf care machines launched this year are tailored to golf course customers (like TPC Deere Run and golf courses across the PGA TOUR), including electric Gator™ utility vehicles, E-Cut™ Electric walk greens mowers, and E-Cut hybrid fairway mowers.

Compared to non-hybrid mowers, the 6700A and 7700A E-Cut Hybrid Fairway Mowers have 90% reduction of hydraulic leak points, reduced fuel consumption and less engine noise. Additionally, the E-Cut Electric walk greens mowers can mow 50,000 square feet on a single charge, all while using no fuel or oil and running virtually silent. These John Deere products attract customers because of their precision and ease of use, efficiency gains associated with electrification, fuel savings, and noise reduction.

Residential customers (like you) can benefit from electrified turf equipment as well. Deere recently launched the Z370R – a lithium-ion powered, zero turn electric mower that delivers a quieter experience, enhanced performance, and no exhaust. Just another way to take advantage of the benefits of electrification at home.

Connect, Guide & Manage

The Small Ag & Turf machines also now have access to John Deere Operations Center PRO Golf management software, a solution fully integrated within the John Deere Operations Center™, helping customers improve communication between managers and employees, enhance their facility’s organization, and harness data to enable better decision-making. John Deere PRO Golf also provides integrated labor and fleet management tools enhanced with machine connectivity. Another way John Deere is helping making turf teams more efficient on the course!

Results

  • 185 and 225 E-Cut Electric Walk Greens Mowers: estimated product lifetime emissions savings of up to 4 metric tons of CO2e
  • E-Cut Hybrid Fairway Mowers:
    • 7700A has an estimated product lifetime emissions savings of up to 11 metric tons CO2e
    • 6700A has an estimated product lifetime emissions savings of up to 10 metric tons CO2e

This is just a tiny peek behind the curtain as to what John Deere is doing in the sustainability space. Their goals are high and they are looking at all aspects of their business to find ways to help lower emissions, use recycled materials, improve the intelligence of the machines they produce and make people and businesses across the world more efficient.

The John Deere Operations Center was named the CES 2024 Innovative awards and also received honors for Sustainability, Eco-Design and Smart-Energy. John Deere truly runs for all and is helping life leap forward across the globe. Learn more about John Deere’s Sustainability practices here.

Grammy award winning Country music superstar Lainey Wilson and legendary rockers Counting Crows will perform at this year’s John Deere Classic, continuing the tournament’s highly successful Concerts on Course series, which debuted last year.

Wilson, who recently won her first Grammy for her critically acclaimed record, “Bell Bottom Country,” was also honored as Country Music Association’s (CMA) Entertainer of the Year. She will perform Sunday, July 7.

Counting Crows, who burst onto the scene in 1993 and is known as one of the pre-eminent live touring rock bands, will take the greenside stage on Saturday, July 6.

“The John Deere Classic is more than thrilled to welcome CMA Entertainer of the Year Lainey Wilson and one of the music industry’s top live bands, Counting Crows, to perform at this year’s tournament,” said tournament director Andrew Lehman. “It is going to be a weekend of great golf, great music and great fun for our fans.”

Longtime tournament sponsor John Deere pioneered the Concert on Course series.

“Building off the momentum of last year’s John Deere Classic that brought record crowds to TPC Deere Run for an engaging blend of live music and golf, we are excited to announce another powerful concert lineup,” said Mara Downing, Vice President, Global Brand and Communications. “When we renewed our contract with the PGA TOUR, we wanted to evolve to attract new and traditional fans to this world-class event.”

The performances are scheduled to take place along the 18th fairway at approximately 5:45 p.m., a short time after golf concludes, as it did last year, Lehman said. Fans will be seated on the hillside to golfer’s right of the fairway across from the stage. Tickets for the John Deere Classic go on sale on Wednesday, April 3rd.

The 53rd edition of the Quad Cities’ PGA Tour event will be played the week of July 3-7 at TPC Deere Run in Silvis with Sepp Straka as defending champion and a purse of $7.8 million.

The John Deere Classic, which includes Birdies for Charity, is a 501(C)3 non-profit organization located in the John Deere Classic tournament offices at 15623 Coaltown Road, East Moline, Illinois.  Since its founding in 1971, the tournament has helped raise more than $174 million for charity.

The John Deere Classic is putting a spotlight on Sustainability during the month of March. We wanted to share some insider information on our sustainability practices and the partners who help us accomplish our goals, on and off the course!

First up is Metro, who we partner with for transportation services for the tournament-sanctioned parking lot at Black Hawk College in Moline, as well as the on course people mover, which we call the “Sustainability Shuttle”.

Metro is a sustainability leader in the Quad Cities. They have converted 70% of their fleet to run on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), and now 30% of their fleet is electric! Fun Fact: Metro’s initial 25 CNG buses that were purchased in the early 2000’s were built with John Deere engines!

Last year, from Wednesday through Sunday, Metro supplied John Deere Classic patrons with a sustainable ride to and from the tournament with their battery electric buses. These buses drove nearly 6,000 miles and provided over 19,000 rides to and from the course. This change in transportation resulted in a net 24,350 lb. reduction in CO2 emissions. We were thrilled that our patrons could enjoy an comfortable, air-conditioned ride that is also great for the environment. You can learn more about Metro’s electric buses here.

Metro also supplied the John Deere Classic with an additional electric bus at the course that we called the “Sustainability Shuttle”. This bus replaced the older tram and was for moving patrons from the Main Entrance tent to the Clubhouse circle. It’s a great option for fans to save their legs from having to walk from #9 all the way to #1 tee and #18 green areas, plus you can skip the crosswalk areas when golfers are trying to play through and not miss your favorite player’s tee time. Make sure you look for it in 2024, parked on the backside of the Main Entrance tent, to the left on the main drive. Save your legs and emissions!

With twelve fixed routes, along with paratransit and microtransit options, #MetroQC gets you where you need to be. Plus, when you choose to ride Metro, you help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A single person, commuting alone by car, who switches a 20-mile round trip commute to existing public transportation, can reduce annual CO2 emissions by 4,800 pounds per year! In fact, riding the bus far exceeds the benefits of other energy-saving household activities, such as using energy-efficient light bulbs or adjusting thermostats. Where’s your closest #MetroQC stop? Download their Transit app and easily plan your next ride here.

Metro’s electric buses will be back again in 2024, providing shuttles from the Black Hawk College lot again (Fri – Sun), as well as the Sustainability Shuttle near the TPC Deere Run Drive, behind the Main Entrance.

Magic Happens… ONLINE!

The John Deere Classic, a co-sanctioned PGA TOUR golf event held in the Quad Cities every July, has just launched its brand-new website, which was designed and developed in partnership with Terrostar Interactive Media, also located in the Quad Cities. As we step into the 2024 season, we’re excited to share the revamped online experience with golf enthusiasts, fans, and participants alike.

What’s New?

1. **Sleek and Responsive Design**: The website now boasts a sleek and modern design that reflects the elegance and prestige of the tournament. From the homepage to event pages, every element has been carefully crafted for an intuitive and visually appealing experience, and was intentionally designed for use on mobile devices.

2. **Enhanced Navigation**: Finding information about the tournament, players, and schedule is now easier than ever. Our streamlined navigation ensures that visitors can quickly access what they need without any hassle. This includes “tournament mode” functionality that has shortcuts to everyone’s most searched items on the site – field list, tee times and pairings, tickets and the leaderboard.

3. **Interactive Features**: Dive into champion stories, explore the course, hole-by-hole, and stay up to date with the latest golf and charity news—all within a few clicks. The interactive features make it engaging for both casual fans and die-hard golf aficionados.

4. **Ticketing Made Simple**: We recommend purchasing tickets online and in advance of the tournament. Guests are required to present a valid digital ticket to enter tournament grounds via our contactless admissions process. You can find helpful ticketing information, as well as ticket options and parking information.

Community Impact

The John Deere Classic isn’t just about golf; it’s about giving back. In 2023, the tournament helped raise a record $14.1 million for Birdies for Charity. From honoring veterans to supporting local initiatives, our commitment to the community remains unwavering.

Be There!

Whether you’re a seasoned golfer or a first-time spectator, we invite you to explore our new website and make plans for 2024! Discover tournament details, purchase your tickets, and experience the excitement of top-tier golf.

Join us this July 3-7. Magic Happens Here!

Country music star Jake Owen will play a concert benefiting the John Deere Classic’s Birdies for Charity program on April 19 at Rhythm City Casino Resort in Davenport, tournament officials announced today.

Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. today and are available online here.

Proceeds from the concert will go to the Birdies for Charity Bonus Fund, which, as its name suggests, is used to finance bonus payments to the more than 450 charities that participate in the Birdies program annually. The more money in the Bonus Fund, the more of a bonus that can be paid to participating charities.

“We are thrilled that Jake Owen is going to be performing a concert in town that will benefit the Birdies Bonus Fund,” said tournament director Andrew Lehman. “Jake is extremely popular in our community, and we’re excited to be able to bring him here. With charities doing such a great job of raising money for their organizations, it’s incumbent upon us to make sure we support them with meaningful bonus payments.”

The concert is co-sponsored by Rhythm City Casino and Quad City Bank & Trust.

“We are thrilled to co-present this exciting event featuring country music star Jake Owen in support of the John Deere Classic’s Birdies for Charity Bonus Fund,” said Mo Hyder, regional vice-president of Rhythm City. “By attending this concert on April 19 at Rhythm City Casino Resort in Davenport, attendees will not only enjoy fantastic music but also contribute to a worthy cause. Proceeds from this event will directly benefit the

Bonus Fund, ensuring that even more charities receive essential support. Join us for a night of great music and meaningful impact!”

Jake Owen burst onto the country music scene in 2006 and was named Top New Male Vocalist by the Academy of Country Music (ACM) in 2008, the same year the ACM named his song “Down in the Honkytonk” Single of the Year. Since then several other albums and singles have reached the top 10 on the country music charts.

The 53rd edition of the Quad Cities’ PGA Tour event will be conducted the week of July 3-7 at TPC Deere Run in Silvis with Sepp Straka as defending champion. The tournament will offer a $7.8 million purse.

The John Deere Classic, which includes Birdies for Charity, is a 501(C)3 non-profit organization located in the John Deere Classic tournament offices at 15623 Coaltown Road, East Moline, Illinois.  Since its founding in 1971, the tournament has helped raise more than $174 million for charity.

SILVIS, Illinois (December 8, 2023) – The John Deere Classic was honored with the PGA Tour’s “Most Engaged Community” award (Dec. 7), marking the eighth time the tournament has earned the distinction.

The award was given at the Tour’s annual meeting of tournament representatives and Tour staff in Palm Springs.

Factors taken into consideration for “Most Engaged Community” include spectator attendance, volunteer support and how well the community is weaved into the overall flavor of the tournament.

In addition to having strong attendance this year, the John Deere Classic initiated its first “Concerts on the Course” events, which featured Darius Rucker and Blake Shelton. The tournament had 2,400 volunteers while 478 charities participated in the tournament’s highly successful Birdies for Charity program. The tournament helped raise a record $14.1 million for charity and provided each charity with a 7.5 percent bonus on money raised.

“The John Deere Classic is excited and honored to receive the 2023 “Most Engaged Community“ award for the eighth time,” said tournament director Andrew Lehman. “A large percentage of the Quad Cities community is involved either directly or indirectly in the tournament, including nearly 500 local charities, 2,400 volunteers, the many local companies who support the event through hospitality sales, and, of course, John Deere without whose support the tournament would not be possible.”

The John Deere Classic was also a finalist for Best Title Sponsor Integration and Tournament of the Year. Susan Archer, a co-chair of the Carts Committee, was named a finalist for the 2023 Volunteer of the Year award. Susan will receive a $2,000 donation to a charity of her choice in honor of the recognition.

The 53rd edition of the Quad Cities-based PGA Tour event will be conducted July 3-7, 2024 at TPC Deere Run in Silvis with Sepp Straka as defending champion.


The John Deere Classic, which includes Birdies for Charity, is a 501(C)3 non-profit organization located in the tournament offices at 15623 Coaltown Road, East Moline, Illinois.  Founded in 1971, the tournament has raised $173 million for charity.

Smart Lexus of Quad Cities Donates 2-Year Lease to a Lucky Winner

MOLINE, Illinois (Oct. 31, 2023) – The 2023 John Deere Classic helped raise a record $14,102,833 million via its Birdies for Charity program and will pay a 7.5% bonus to its 478 participating charities, tournament officials announced Monday at the John Deere Pavilion in downtown Moline.

This year’s total exceeds by $194,165 the previous record of $13,908,668 set in 2022.

The total number of charity dollars raised by the tournament since it was founded in 1971 is $173,675,549 million, more than 99 percent of which has been raised since John Deere assumed title sponsorship in 1998.

“The John Deere Classic is thrilled not only to announce a charity total of more than $14 million but also that Birdies for Charity will pay a 7.5% bonus to our 478 participating charities,” said JDC tournament director Andrew Lehman.

“We are thankful to our John Deere, other corporate partners, individual donors and local family foundations for their ongoing generosity and support of Birdies for Charity,” Lehman said. “John Deere’s reputation for its commitment to corporate citizenship is widely known and the company’s support for the tournament and our charity is fundamental to their success.”

Meanwhile, the annual contest for a donor to guess the exact number of birdies recorded at the tournament and win a two-year lease on a car from the Grand Prize Sponsor, Smart Lexus of Quad Cities, produced one finalist, who correctly guessed 1,929 birdies. The Official Transportation Sponsor of the John Deere Classic, Smart Lexus of Quad Cities annually provides courtesy cars to John Deere Classic contestants.

The $14.1 million total works out to $37.60 for each of the Quad Cities’ 375,000 residents, again making the John Deere Classic the No. 1 in per capita contributions on the regular PGA TOUR, a distinction it has held for more than a decade.

The total amount donated to the charities is the result of a three-pronged fundraising effort:

  • The tournament’s Birdies for Charity program enables individuals, companies, and foundations to pledge a lump sum donation to a charity or charities of their choice.
  • Because John Deere underwrites the administrative costs of the Birdies program, 100 percent of each Birdies pledge collected goes directly to the designated charities to be used at their organization. They pay no administrative costs to Birdies for Charity.
  • The Bonus Fund consists of tournament revenues, direct donations, a John Deere matching grant, as well as proceeds from special events.

Sepp Straka, 30, shot 21-under par to win the 2023 John Deere Classic for his second PGA Tour victory. Subsequently, the native Austrian (and Georgia resident) was named to the European Ryder Cup team.

The John Deere Classic, which includes Birdies for Charity, is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization located in the John Deere Classic tournament offices at 15623 Coaltown Road, East Moline, Illinois.  Since 1971, the tournament has helped raise $174 million for charity.

By: Thomas Johnston (Quad City Times)

Walking off TPC Deere Run on Thursday, Sepp Straka admitted he didn’t give any thought to winning the John Deere Classic.

He may not have even had it cross his mind much on Friday or Saturday either.

By the time he had wrapped up his 72nd hole on Sunday, he couldn’t do anything but think about his second PGA Tour title.

And wait.

And stew about his worst swing of the day that led to a double bogey on the final hole that trimmed his lead to one shot and opened the door for the chasers.

Still, Straka had just shot the lowest closing round in the Quad-Cities in 41 years — a blistering 62 — to put himself in position to become the 2023 JDC champ, take ownership of the bronze buck trophy and claim the winner’s prize of $1,332,000.

Read the full story here.

The John Deere Classic today officially announced four more young sponsor exemptions who will play in the tournament, July 5-9, two of whom already have been winners at TPC Deere Run.

“We are very pleased to announce four more outstanding young sponsor exemptions, who we believe deserve an opportunity to compete against the elite golfers participating in the John Deere Classic,” said tournament director Andrew Lehman. “We think our fans will appreciate getting to know them as they begin their journeys on the PGA Tour.”

The players are:

Marcus Byrd, 25, of Washington, D.C., who starred at Middle Tennessee State before turning pro in 2020 and joining the Advocates Professional Golf Association. The native of Cleverly, Maryland has won three APGA Tour events so far this year, including the APGA tournament at TPC Deere Run on May 30. He has played in three PGA Tour events this year, including the Genesis Invitational, the Honda Classic and the Wells Fargo Championship. 

Tommy Kuhl, 23, of nearby Morton, Illinois, who recently completed his fifth year at Illinois, was first team All-Big Ten in 2022 and 2023 and helped lead the Illini to the NCAA Championship, where he finished T-7. He recently played on the victorious U.S. Palmer Cup team going 2-1-1. He finished No. 15 in the PGA Tour University rankings and has been playing on PGA Tour Canada. He will be making his PGA Tour debut at the John Deere Classic.

William Mouw, 22, of Chino, California, who is a three-time All-American from Pepperdine and won the anchor match of his team’s 2021 national championship victory.  A five-time qualifier for the U.S. Amateur, Mouw played on the 2021 U.S. Walker Cup team and was No. 6 in PGA Tour University, giving him conditional status on the Korn Ferry Tour. He won the Junior World and 2017 Western Junior Championship.

Ross Steelman, 22, of Columbia, Missouri, led Georgia Tech to the ACC Championship in April and finished T-2 in the NCAA individual championship. Last summer, he was medalist at the Western Amateur and got to the quarterfinals in match play. He finished No. 4 in PGA Tour University, giving him conditional status on the Tour’s developmental tours. At age 12, he won the John Deere Classic Junior Championship at TPC Deere Run, where he’ll be making his PGA Tour debut.

“Providing outstanding young players with an opportunity to perform on a new stage is something the John Deere Classic has embraced over the last two decades,” Lehman said. “It’s a great tradition that we plan to continue.”

Gordon Sargent, 20, who was announced previously as receiving a sponsor exemption, recently finished as low amateur at the U.S. Open.

Since the year 2000, the John Deere Classic has awarded exemptions to such future major champions as Wyndham Clark, Lucas Glover, Zach Johnson, Jason Day, Webb Simpson, Patrick Reed, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm. Other PGA Tour winners who received exemptions include Charles Howell III, Matt Kuchar, Nick Watney, Camilo Villegas, Nick Hardy and Viktor Hovland.


The 52nd edition of the Quad Cities-based PGA Tour event will be conducted July 5-9 at TPC Deere Run in Silvis with J.T. Poston as defending champion. In a wire-to-wire victory, Poston won by three shots in 2022 with a 21-under par total for the 72-hole event. This year’s purse is $7.4 million purse, an increase of $300,000,

The John Deere Classic, which includes Birdies for Charity, is a 501(C)3 non-profit organization located in the tournament offices at 15623 Coaltown Road, East Moline, Illinois.  Founded in 1971, the tournament has raised $159.57 million for charity.