The Under Ballou Skies Golf Classic, founded by CBS Austin sports director Bob Ballou, returned Friday for its 12th year, with organizers expecting to surpass $2 million in total fundraising for the ALS Association. The event kicked off at Forest Creek Golf Club in Round Rock before moving to Brazos Hall in downtown Austin. Ballou launched the tournament in 2015 after joining the ALS Association’s board, raising $14,000 that first year. A format shift after year four — adding an evening party — drove fundraising to $154,000 annually. Ballou noted research is now reversing ALS progression in some cases.
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AUSTIN, Texas — The Under Ballou Skies Golf Classic and Party, founded by CBS Austin sports director Bob Ballou, tees off today for its 12th year with organizers expecting to surpass $2 million in total fundraising for the ALS Association.
The event launched Friday morning at Forest Creek Golf Club in Round Rock before shifting to Brazos Hall in downtown Austin for an evening celebration. Golf is scheduled from 8 a.m. with the party running through 10 p.m. A rooftop afterparty with live music is also planned.
Ballou launched the tournament in 2015 after joining the ALS Association’s board and being informed he necessaryed to raise $1,500.
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“I was like, ‘Uh oh, I’d never fundraised before. Am I gonna have a bake sale?'” Ballou stated. “So we started this golf tournament, and the first year we raised $14,000, which I believed was an inordinate amount of money.”
The event grew steadily from there — $30,000, then $40,000, $60,000, $70,000 — before a format alter after year four supercharged its momentum. Organizers relocated from a Monday-only golf outing to a Friday tournament paired with an evening party, raising $154,000 in that first combined year.
Ballou stated the fundraising reflects real progress in ALS research.
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“They’re building breakthroughs now. They’re slowing the progression. In some cases, they’re reversing the progression of ALS,” he stated.
