Joe Don Rooney & Jay DeMarcus Play Golf

Tweet from Joe Don as he and Jay play golf.

Beautiful Course!

Where @jaydemarcus & I played golf today! Amazing!!! #LiveAndLoud golf tour! :) http://t.co/cJzN9B1u2F
— Joe Don Rooney (@JoeDonRooney) July 21, 2013

Joe Don to Play in the American Century Championship

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE — The bleacher crowd of about 50 at the first tee applauded when Rascal Flatts lead guitarist Joe Don Rooney was announced at Thursday's American Century Celeb-Am Tournament.

Dressed with gray slacks and matching beret, Rooney stood behind his ball, studied the 426-yard fairway and gripped his driver, making noticeable an eagle tattoo on his left forearm. The drive was a low liner, and for a moment it looked like it might hit a right-side bunker. But there was no splice in the shot. It went perfectly straight, landing safely almost in the middle of the fairway.

Friday and Saturday night after his rounds at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course in the American Century Championship Rooney will perform before more than 7,000 country music fans at the Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena at Harveys.

It's only the second time a musician has performed onstage and in the American Century Championship. The Gatlin Brothers — Steve, Larry and Rudy — played a show at Caesars Tahoe in the late 1990s and in the celebrity tournament, which is in its 21st year. Billy Rapaport, the ACC senior field director, has worked all 21.

“The Gatlin Brothers just played one show inside at Caesars,” Rapaport said. “This is two major outdoor concerts. That's unprecedented. It's a great thing for this event.”

How major are the concerts?

“We're bringing 15 trucks,” said Trey Turner, manager of Rascal Flatts, a band with 10 No. 1 country hits and known for elaborate stage effects.

Rooney laughed when he was asked if he was worried about performing after playing golf all day.

“I'm not but the guys might be,” he said, a few minutes before teeing off. “I love to compete.”

Golfing the day of a concert is typical for the musical trio, which includes Gary LeVox and Jay DeMarcus.

“I try to play at least nine holes and get back to the sound check by 4 p.m.,” Rooney said. “When we toured with Darius Rucker we played every day.”

Rascal Flatt's bus driver, who was Rooney's caddy Thursday, confirmed the story and talked about his game.

“Before a show sometimes I'll drive right to the golf course,” said Lee Pharris, who added the Golf Channel is usually tuned in on the bus. “He played in the BMW Pro-Am, made the cut and was in the top 12 Sunday. He's a good little player. Like any golfer he has his ups and downs.”

Rooney acknowledged the ACC is a much bigger deal.

“This is different with the gallery and TV crews,” he said. “You're definitely under the microscope.”

Rooney learned the game from his father, practicing with a pitching wedge in the backyard in Picher, Okla. When he got older, he played at a nine-hole course just across the border in Kansas. He said he played in some junior tournaments but his high school didn't have a golf team. There were just 25 in his graduating class.

Rooney, who has an 8 handicap, listed his ACC goals.

“I'd love to make at least three birdies a day,” he said. “If I keep making pars, I'll be fine. My goal is no double bogeys. I don't want to try to do too much. That's where us ams get in trouble.”

Rooney's group Thursday included NFL Hall of Fame running back Marcus Allen. Before the round began, Rooney was introduced to Allen's girlfriend and model Laura Hunter, who said she likes Rascal Flatts.

“I grew up listening to country,” she said. “It reminds me of being with my friends riding around.”

The idea of having Rooney play in the tournament began backstage at Lake Tahoe five years ago, said Rapaport, who thought the timing was right in 2010.

“I was at the Olympics covering figure skating when I called (Turner),” he said.

The concert initially was scheduled for later this month, said Turner, who “rerouted” some West Coast shows.

The band members were thrilled when they learned they would be here the week of the ACC.

“They were like, ‘Hell yeah,' ” Turner said. “Now were here hanging out in Lake Tahoe.”

"AMERICAN CENTURY CHAMPIONSHIP | Rascal Flatts Guitarist Plays Celebrity Tournament by Day, Concerts at Night | TahoeDailyTribune.com." South Lake Tahoe California | TahoeDailyTribune.com News. Web. 16 July 2010. .

Changes to the Greenbrier Classic Shows

The Greenbrier Classic has announced that there is a change in the scheduled Reba McEntire and Rascal Flatts show originally planed for Thursday, June 29th.  Due to conflicts in prior commitments Reba McEntire will perform on Wednesday, June 28th.  Rascal Flatts will perform on Thursday as originally scheduled.

If you have already purchased your tickets for the Thursday performance the Greenbrier will be sending you tickets to both the Wednesday Reba McEntire show and the Thursday Rascal Flatts show.

For more information check this article from The Charleston Daily Mail

Reba and Rascal Flatts Added to The Greenbrier Classic Concert Series

The Greenbrier
Press Release

The Greenbrier Classic, sure to be the most exciting event on this year's PGA TOUR is now even more incredible. Country music icon Reba and the award-winning Rascal Flatts will perform on Thursday, July 29th as part of the inaugural Greenbrier Classic. On Saturday, July 31st, superstars Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood will take the stage for another incredible evening. These legendary musicians will perform in a private concert for Classic attendees and participants, as access to the concert is included with the purchase of a weekly badge. A new outdoor amphitheater is currently under construction at the State Fair of West Virginia and will be the setting for both tournament concerts.

On Friday, June 18, The Greenbrier will offer two new ways to purchase tickets. Purchase weekly grounds badge for only $69 and receive a ticket to the Reba and Rascal Flatts concert. Or, select a weekly grounds badge and the Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood concert on Saturday for only $79. Concert seating is general admission/festival seating with these two options. The best value remains the $147 weekly grounds badge with preferred seating for both concerts and other benefits including a $99 accommodation rate for a future Greenbrier stay. With the $147 grounds badge, purchasers will also receive a round of golf on The Greenbrier Course for $100 or a complimentary round on the Meadows as well as a 15% discount on Greenbrier Classic merchandise. A limited number of tickets are available and in 10 days, these tickets will go on sale through Ticketmaster, Live Nation, at all Kroger stores and United Bank branches throughout the state. Purchases may also be made online at www.greenbrierclassic.com or at the The Greenbrier Classic Official Tournament shop at the resort. A portion of the proceeds from all ticket sales will benefit local and regional charities.

“We fully expect a sell-out. The Greenbrier Classic is going to be the biggest and greatest event on the PGA TOUR this year, hands down, and these prices are the best you will find on the TOUR,” said Jim Justice, owner and chairman of the resort. “Reba and Gary, Joe Don and Jay are phenomenal artists and together, with all the other aspects of the tournament, this will definitely be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

The Thursday and Saturday concerts will be held at a new amphitheater at the State Fairgrounds. This new outdoor facility, currently under construction, will accommodate over 50,000 spectators. The stage will be approximately 130’ wide, 70’ deep and 70’ tall, allowing any sized national artist the flexibility to design their own show.

One of the most successful female recording artists in history, Reba has sold over 55 million albums worldwide and her previous 13 studio albums have all achieved Gold or Platinum-plus status. She has won 15 American Music Awards; 12 Academy of Country Music Awards; 9 People’s Choice Awards; 7 Country Music Association Awards and 2 GRAMMY Awards. Reba’s reign of #1 hits spans four decades and the multimedia superstar was recently recognized by Billboard, Country Aircheck and Mediabase as the biggest female hit-maker in country music history. Also an acclaimed film, TV and Broadway actress, Reba signed with The Valory Music Co. in November 2008 and released, KEEP ON LOVING YOU, the next year. The album became Reba’s first solo studio album to debut at #1 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart and produced the four-week #1 smash, “Consider Me Gone.” Reba’s label move reunited the multimedia entertainer with industry leader Scott Borchetta, now President and CEO of the Big Machine Label Group, which includes Big Machine Records, The Valory Music Co. and Republic Nashville.

Since their inception in 1999, Rascal Flatts has helped change the face of popular music. Their trademark sound--Gary LeVox's powerfully emotive lead vocals coupled with the soaring harmonies of Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney, set amid world-class arrangements and production, have made the band the standard bearers for cutting-edge country. They have placed 10 #1 singles and 20 Top Tens and each of their studio albums have gone multi-platinum with total sales approaching 19 million. They have been named the ACM and CMA top vocal group every year since 2003 and have won numerous American Music Awards and People’s Choice Awards. The three are committed family men who take seriously their role in the community. They are known for their charitable efforts, which have included raising millions of dollars for charities including the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt and for their work on the celebrity cabinet board of the American Red Cross.

Rascal Flatt’s Joe Don Rooney Hits The Greens In Greenville, SC For Charity

Joe Don Rooney of Rascal Flatts recently hit the greens in Greenville, SC, when he played in the tenth annual BMW Charity Pro-Am golf tournament. The event pairs celebrity players with stars of the PGA Tour’s Nationwide Tour. Joe Don has played the tournament in years past and is a fan favorite at the event! Fans line the greens for a chance to get a picture or an autograph and he is always happy to stop and chat for a sec and take a picture. We love seeing Joe Don at the tournament and hope he will continue to play in future ones as well.

Each year, amateurs and celebrities compete for individual prizes and cash donations to the charity of their choice out of the beneficiaries selected by South Carolina Charities, Inc.

The first nine tournaments raised more than seven million dollars for more than 125 area charities according to tournament officials.

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