In early June each year, the Monarchs Care Foundation, the charitable arm of the Manchester Monarchs, hosts the Ace Bailey Golf Classic.

It is an event that commemorates the late Garnet “Ace” Bailey who was the Los Angeles Kings’ Director of Pro Scouting prior to his tragic death in the events on September 11, 2001.  Bailey was on United Airlines Flight 175 on that day and his legacy lives on strongly through the tremendous support of the hockey community, the Ace Bailey Children’s Foundation and the annual Ace Bailey Golf Classic.

The tournament benefits the Ace Bailey Children’s Foundation and Mom’s Place at Catholic Medical Center.  Mom’s Place is a family-centered birthing program that supplies a medically-safe environment by a team of highly skilled doctors, midwives and nurses.

Bailey’s love of for children prompted his family to start the Ace Bailey Children’s Foundation which focuses on the well-being of hospitalized children through the building and renovation of hospital environments that improve the family-centered and softer side of hospital care.

“It is definitely a great event,” said former Monarchs defenseman Doug Nolan.  “To see all the familiar faces year in and year out is a lot of fun.  It says a lot about Ace and the loyalty he had and all his friends had for him.  It is a fun event and everyone has a good time.”

Each year’s tournament always seems to be a great event but those that have participated in previous Ace Bailey Golf Classics find it difficult to rank their favorite one.

“Every year is great,” said former Monarchs forward Jeff Giuliano.  “I think the Monarchs and everyone involved do a great job with it.  It is such a great tournament.  No year is better than any of the others.  Every year is awesome and it is always lot of fun.”

Giuliano did manage to pinpoint what makes the event enjoyable each year.

“(Catching up with) former guys that I used to play with,” he said.  “I was with the Monarchs for a long time so a lot of people in the office I still know and all the sponsors that are here supporting the cause year in and year out.  It is nice to come back and see everybody support the cause.”

The long standing belief that all hockey players love to golf is not always true.  There is a population of players that do not spend all their time away from the rink in the summer at a golf course but that is not to say they can not enjoy themselves at the tournament.

“I took two shots (in this year’s tournament),” said Nolan.  “I drilled a par three next to the pin and I quit after that.  I ended it up on top.  It was awesome.”

The Ace Bailey Golf Classic scored another “Ace” at this year’s tournament and looks to continue to build upon the $350,000 the event has raised over the last 11 years.