Drive Fore Kids: The Celebrity Golf Tournament in Maine You Probably Don't Know About
Most people in Southern Maine have no idea that one of the largest celebrity charity events in the state happens every June at a private country club in Falmouth. That is not an accident. Private clubs do not market to the general public, local news covers it lightly if at all, and the result is a genuine information gap: an event that has raised over $500,000 for sick kids in Maine since 2023, and half the state has never heard of it.
Drive Fore Kids is a celebrity golf tournament held at Falmouth Country Club, presented by Shamrock Sports and Entertainment. It benefits two organizations: the MaineHealth Barbara Bush Children's Hospital and the Dempsey Center. The fourth annual event runs June 25 through 28, 2026, and despite the private club setting, most of the weekend is open to the public.
What actually happens across four days
This is not a single round of golf followed by a rubber chicken dinner. Drive Fore Kids spans four days with a mix of events, and understanding the schedule matters if you want to get the most out of it.
Thursday kicks off with an opening party. This is where the celebrity presence is most accessible. Past years have drawn professional athletes, actors, and entertainers, and Thursday evening puts them in a social setting rather than scattered across 18 holes. Tickets for the opening party are available separately if you cannot commit to the full weekend.
Friday and Saturday are the main tournament days. Celebrity and amateur foursomes play Falmouth Country Club's course while fans follow along the fairways. If you have never walked a private club course, this is your chance. Falmouth Country Club is one of the best-conditioned courses in the state, and during Drive Fore Kids the grounds are open to general admission ticket holders who want to watch the action.
Sunday wraps with a Salute to Service day. Active duty military and veterans receive complimentary general admission with valid military ID. That detail alone is worth knowing and worth sharing.
The celebrity draw is real
Drive Fore Kids has built a roster that punches well above what you would expect for a charity event in Maine. Previous years have brought in names like Michael Pena, Vince Carter, Jim Rice, Ronde Barber, Jon Lester, Carly Chaikin, and Joey Graziadei from The Bachelor. The full 2026 lineup typically gets announced in waves leading up to the event, so check driveforekids.com for updates.
The celebrity component is not window dressing. These are not people showing up for a photo op and leaving. They play full rounds, interact with fans on the course, and participate in the evening events. For kids especially, the chance to watch a Hall of Famer or a recognizable actor play golf in person, in their own state, is the kind of thing that sticks.
Where the money goes
The two beneficiaries are not random picks. They represent the two biggest needs for Maine families dealing with pediatric illness and cancer.
The Barbara Bush Children's Hospital at Maine Medical Center handles more than 100,000 patient visits annually. It is the primary pediatric hospital for the entire state, covering cancer treatment, cardiology, neonatal care, and dozens of other specialties. If your child has ever needed serious medical care in Maine, there is a reasonable chance BBCH was involved.
The Dempsey Center, founded by Patrick Dempsey in 2008 after his mother's cancer diagnosis, provides free supportive care to anyone affected by cancer. Not treatment, but everything around treatment: counseling, nutrition guidance, exercise programs, support groups, integrative therapies. They operate locations in Lewiston and South Portland, a hospitality home in Portland, and virtual programming through Dempsey Connects. The word "free" matters. Every service the Dempsey Center provides is available at no cost to patients and their families.
Since launching in 2023, Drive Fore Kids has generated over $500,000 in direct charitable contributions to these two organizations. The 2025 goal was to exceed $200,000 in a single year. The broader economic impact, measured by Shamrock Sports and Entertainment, runs north of $4.25 million annually when you factor in hospitality, travel, and local spending across the tournament weekend. That economic activity lands directly in Greater Portland.
How to actually attend
Here is the part that surprises people: you do not need a membership or a connection to attend. General admission passes are available to anyone.
A full tournament pass starts at $50. Daily passes run about $35. Opening party tickets are sold separately. All of it is available through Eventbrite and the official Drive Fore Kids website. For a celebrity charity event at one of Maine's premier private clubs, these prices are remarkably low. Comparable events in Boston or New York charge hundreds.
What to expect on the ground: you will have access to the course to follow groups, fan experience areas with food and drink, and opportunities to interact with celebrities and athletes. The vibe is relaxed. This is not Augusta National with roped-off corridors and silence-please signs. It is a summer weekend in Maine, on a beautiful golf course, with good people raising money for good reasons.
More than 300 volunteers help run the event each year. If you would rather contribute time than money, volunteer registration opens on the Drive Fore Kids website well before the tournament.
Why private club events matter for the community
There is a broader point here that goes beyond one tournament. Private clubs in Southern Maine host charity events, junior programs, community fundraisers, and outreach that the public almost never hears about. The clubs do not publicize them because their marketing, such as it is, targets prospective members. Local media rarely covers them because access is limited. The result is a blind spot: significant community contributions that happen behind gates most people never walk through.
Drive Fore Kids is the highest-profile example, but it is not the only one. When a private club opens its doors for a cause, the combination of venue quality, member network, and organizational infrastructure tends to produce events that raise serious money. The $500,000-plus that Drive Fore Kids has generated is not a coincidence. It is what happens when a first-rate facility and a well-connected community decide to point their resources at a problem.
Whether you go for the golf, the celebrities, the cause, or just the excuse to walk one of Maine's best private courses on a June afternoon, Drive Fore Kids is the kind of event that deserves a much bigger audience than it currently has. Now you know it exists.
The details
Event: 4th Annual Drive Fore Kids Celebrity Golf Tournament Dates: June 25 to 28, 2026 Location: Falmouth Country Club, Falmouth, Maine Beneficiaries: MaineHealth Barbara Bush Children's Hospital and the Dempsey Center Tickets: Starting at $35 (daily) / $50 (full tournament) Military: Free general admission on Sunday, June 28 with valid military ID Info: driveforekids.com
FAQ
What is Drive Fore Kids in Maine?
Drive Fore Kids is an annual celebrity charity golf tournament held at Falmouth Country Club in Falmouth, Maine. It benefits the MaineHealth Barbara Bush Children's Hospital and the Dempsey Center. The event features professional athletes, actors, and entertainers playing alongside amateur golfers, with fan experiences and evening events open to the public. It has raised over $500,000 since launching in 2023.
Can the public attend Drive Fore Kids?
Yes. Despite being held at a private country club, Drive Fore Kids sells general admission tickets to the public. A full tournament pass starts at $50, and daily passes are available for about $35. Tickets for the opening party are also sold separately. You do not need a club membership to attend.
When is Drive Fore Kids 2026?
The 4th Annual Drive Fore Kids runs June 25 through 28, 2026, at Falmouth Country Club in Falmouth, Maine.
What charities does Drive Fore Kids support?
Drive Fore Kids supports two Maine organizations: the MaineHealth Barbara Bush Children's Hospital, which provides pediatric care including cancer treatment, cardiology, and neonatal services for over 100,000 patient visits per year, and the Dempsey Center, which offers free supportive care services to anyone affected by cancer.
What celebrities have appeared at Drive Fore Kids?
Past celebrity participants include actor Michael Pena, NBA Hall of Famer Vince Carter, Red Sox legend Jim Rice, NFL star Ronde Barber, World Series champion Jon Lester, actress Carly Chaikin, and Bachelor star Joey Graziadei, among others. The full 2026 celebrity lineup is announced in stages at driveforekids.com.
Is there free admission for veterans at Drive Fore Kids?
Yes. Sunday of the tournament weekend is designated as Salute to Service day. Active duty military personnel and veterans receive complimentary general admission with valid military ID or credentials.
How can I volunteer at Drive Fore Kids?
Drive Fore Kids relies on more than 300 volunteers each year. Volunteer registration is available on the official website at driveforekids.com. Positions fill up, so registering early is recommended.