Kurt Bevacqua has never been the shy type. The man who hit .412 with two home runs as the San Diego Padres designated hitter in the 1984 World Series, won a Topps bubble gum blowing championship along the way, and once told reporters exactly what he thought of Tommy Lasorda has spent the years since his playing days doing something quieter and, frankly, more useful. He runs golf events that raise real money for people who need it.
These days Bevacqua is executive director of the MLB Retired Players Association and chairman of its Celebrity Classic, a Pro-Am that touches down in the Phoenix area this September. We caught up with Dirty Kurt to talk about the weekend, why a buddies trip with a conscience might be the best golf you book all year, and what it takes to land a spot in a foursome next to a big leaguer.
GolfTrips: For the golfer who has never heard of it, give us the elevator pitch. What is the MLB Retired Players Association Celebrity Classic?
Bevacqua: It is a premier annual event that brings together former Major League Baseball players, corporate partners, and community leaders for a weekend of golf, philanthropy, and impact. We are now in our second year, and the whole thing is built to give participants a first-class experience while raising meaningful money for three causes we care about: the MLB Retired Players Association under our Players Helping Others program, Music Movement, which supports youth with autism and developmental disabilities, and the Arizona State University baseball program. Our title sponsor is Evotek, and our presenting sponsor and host hotel is Gila River Resorts and Casinos at Wild Horse Pass. One of the parts I am proudest of is the free baseball clinic we host for kids 7 to 14, boys and girls who love this game and want to be part of our national pastime.
GolfTrips: When is it, and where are we playing?
Bevacqua: The weekend runs September 19 through 21, 2026, and we have partnered with Gila River Resorts and Casinos at Wild Horse Pass as the host hotel. The golf is played at Ocotillo Golf Club in Chandler. If you have not seen Ocotillo, you are in for a surprise. It does not look like the desert you are picturing.
GolfTrips: A lot of guys want in on something like this but cannot wrangle three buddies to commit. What if somebody only has himself?
Bevacqua: We hear that all the time, and we plan for it. Every year we set aside a limited number of spots for single amateur players. If you want to play but do not have a full team, you go online, sign up as a single, and we put you in a group. Nobody sits out because they could not find a fourth.
GolfTrips: What kind of field and experience should a first-timer expect when they show up?
Bevacqua: A full field, and first-class hospitality from the moment you pull in. Gift packs, great food, the works. We want every single player walking away feeling like the day was about them while we are quietly putting real dollars toward our charities. That balance is the whole game for us.
GolfTrips: There are a hundred Pro-Ams out there. Be honest. What actually makes yours different?
Bevacqua: That is a fair question, and there are a lot of good events out there, no argument. But we know hospitality and customer service like nobody else, because this is what we do for a living. We have been running golf tournaments for more than 20 years, in multiple countries and on four continents. We know how to do it right so everyone has a great time, and we take the safety and security of everybody seriously, our players, the fans, the spouses, the significant others. You are taken care of here.
GolfTrips: Last one. Where do golfers go to sign up?
Bevacqua: First, thank you for having us on your site and for helping us promote the event. It means a lot. Our website is the place for all the details, to register, or to look at a sponsorship opportunity if a company wants to get involved. Come on out. We will see you on the course.
The Details
Dates: September 19 to 21, 2026, in the greater Phoenix area. The youth baseball clinic is Saturday the 19th. The sponsor and celebrity reception is Sunday the 20th at 5:30 in the evening at Gila River Resorts and Casinos at Wild Horse Pass. Golf is Monday the 21st at Ocotillo Golf Club, with registration and breakfast at 7:30 and a shotgun start at 8:30. Lunch and awards follow play. Every foursome is paired with a celebrity.
The course: Ocotillo is a Ted Robinson design from 1986, and Robinson did not earn the nickname King of Waterscapes by accident. Water is in play on 24 of the 27 holes, with waterfalls, lakes, and lush turf that give the place a Floridian feel in the middle of the Sonoran Desert. It carries 4 and a half stars on Golf Digest's Best Places to Play list and a Top 50 Resort nod from Golf World. The Classic uses the Oasis and Sky nines, which happen to be the toughest 18 on property at a 72.2 rating and 133 slope from the tips. Bring an extra sleeve and aim at the fat of the green.
The basecamp: Gila River Resorts and Casinos at Wild Horse Pass is a AAA Four Diamond property less than 20 minutes from Sky Harbor airport. There is a casino with table games and a BetMGM Sportsbook downstairs, a Shula's steakhouse called Prime up on the 11th floor with Estrella Mountain views, a spa, and 36 more holes of golf next door at Whirlwind. Stay on property and you can hit the reception, the tables, and the first tee without ever touching a steering wheel.
Cost and registration: Individual entry is $1,000 and includes golf, swag, on-course food, the reception meal, and the awards ceremony. A foursome package runs $4,000, and single players are welcome. Register or ask about sponsorships at mlbalum.com or through the Music Movement event page. You can also reach event chairman Kurt Bevacqua at kurtb@mlbalum.com or tournament coordinator Bill D'Agostino at bill@music-movement.org.
