For the first time ever, the two charities were combined into one event, but it was held at the brand-new Topgolf complex in Bridgeville, Pa.
"They had a wild time," said Penguins Foundation president Dave Soltesz of the over 300 people in attendance. "It's not a traditional golf course. You're not with one celebrity all day. You can circulate on the bays and talk to people. There is a lot of downtime between swings so there is an ability to network. It's just a fantastic facility."
Penguins captain Sidney Crosby echoed Soltesz's sentiment.
"It's cool. The concept is awesome," Crosby said. "Just to get a chance to interact with everyone, usually you're driving around in a golf cart with one person in your group. Here you can interact with so many more people. It's cool being in this kind of atmosphere and everyone enjoyed themselves."
Topgolf opened its doors on July 20th to rave reviews. The 65,000-square-foot complex is comprised to three levels of shooting bays set up like driving ranges. The object is to hit the balls at various targets on the course for points. An electronic screen keeps score.
Many Pens players have already attended the complex and enjoyed the new spin on an old game.
"My first time was last week," Crosby said. "All the guys were pretty excited when we found out they were bringing (Topgolf) here. We came last week and had a great time. I'm sure they'll be other trips down the road."
The dual events, which were sponsored by UPMC and Verizon, benefit the Penguins Foundation, alumni charities and various scholarship funds. Judging by the bustling crowd, the event was a hit.
"I think you can see the excitement," Soltesz said. "Whether it's the players or the alumni, they're ready to get in the bays and have a little fun. This is not as serious (as normal golf), but I think it's a really fun event for them all."
Even Crosby admitted there is less pressure.
"You feel way better about this than a round of golf," he said with a smile. "The targets are bigger than the greens you're usually looking at. It's a little more enjoyable that way, too."
