The charitable endeavors of Jim and Tabitha Furyk are being honored once again — this time by a national organization.
A year after they received the Deane Beman Award for service to the First Coast by the Jacksonville Area Golf Association, the Furyks are being honored by the Golf Writers Association with the Charlie Bartlett Award, presented annually to a professional golfer for “unselfish contributions to the betterment of society.”
The award is named for the first secretary of the GWAA and a writer for the Chicago Tribune. Past winners have included Davis Love III of St. Simons Island, Ga., Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Tiger Woods, Lorena Ochoa, Tom Watson, Payne Stewart, Betsy King, Patty Berg, Ernie Els, Lee Trevino and Billy Casper.
The award is going, for the first time, to a pro golfer and his or her spouse. The Furyks, who live in Jacksonville, have raised more than $3.5 million for First Coast charities through the Jim and Tabitha Furyk Foundation, from proceeds raised by the Constellation Energy Furyk & Friends PGA Tour Champions event.
“She works so hard at the foundation,” Jim Furyk said in the GWAA press release announcing the award. “This sort of became her outlet. She’s an inspiration for me.”
The Furyks will be honored on April 10 in Augusta, Ga., at the GWAA annual dinner, on the eve of the first round of the Masters. Also on the agenda that evening will be player of the year honors for Jon Rahm (male golfer), Lilia Vu (female golfer) and Steve Stricker (senior golfer), and LPGA Hall of Fame member Judy Rankin, the first full-time female golf TV announcer who will receive the PGA of America’s Lifetime Achievement in Journalism Award.
The Jim & Tabitha Furyk Foundation has raised money for charities such as the MaliVai Washington Youth Foundation, First Tee — North Florida, Blessings in a Backpack, St. Johns Riverkeeper, Beaches Habitat for Humanity, Wolfson Children’s Hospital Family Links Program, Operation Shower, Jacksonville Humane Society, Hope for the Holidays, K9s United, Guardian ad Litem Foundation, KIPP Jacksonville Public Schools and Walk Off Charities.