Home to legendary Ben Hogan, Colonial consistently ranks among the top 50 golf courses in America and among the top 100 greatest courses in the world. And since 1999, it has twice played host to the highly regarded Gladney Cup.

Living up to its reputation for being a charity golf event so grand that it evokes no comparison, The 2003 Gladney Cup included a three-day schedule of events that offered everyone who attended a taste of Texas hospitality.

Big Band Sound - Saturday night's performance by Harry Connick, Jr. and his Big Band opened The Gladney Cup with an elevated sense of excitement. His performance thrilled a sold-out crowd gathered for the concert at one of the country's most celebrated music auditoriums - Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth. Certainly, it was an honor that a talent of this magnitude gifted Gladney with a benefit performance. And it was to Gladney's credit that Connick felt moved to do so. Best of all, Connick charmed Gladney supporters when he praised the agency and very passionately spoke on behalf of adoption. His comments resonated with sincerity, forever endearing him to adoptive families.

One Jazzy Night - On Sunday, guests were invited to take a stroll back through time as they gathered at the Gladney campus for One Jazzy Night. It was the era of flappers and frolic - a time when everything "modern" was eagerly embraced. It was the dawn of golf as a popular sport in America.

Eager to join in the fun and festivities, more than 400 guests converged on the Gladney campus for cocktails and a delicious Mexican dinner that was served outdoors under clear Texas skies. Afterwards, a very successful live auction provided plenty of entertainment, especially when country singer Pat Green participated. Attendees cheered as once-in-a-lifetime golf packages and other unique items sold to the highest bidders.

Monday, as the new day dawned, eager golfers were already practicing their swing. For the second time in Gladney Cup history, amateur golfers from around the world happily stepped onto the links at the memory-laden Colonial Country Club to "Tee Off for Adoption." It was a glorious day for golf, blessed by calm weather and Texas sunshine.

The course proved an awesome challenge for those who love the game of golf. In support of Gladney, 244 golfers tackled the difficult 18 holes and in the end, the team of Doug and Laura Wheat and Joel and Melissa Eastman emerged the victor.

In addition to competition, the day included a number of other activities for attendees including two professional clinics: Ben Hogan Demo Day conducted by Ben Hogan representatives and a "Short Game" clinic conducted by LPGA 1999 Instructor of the Year, Amy Fox. The hospitality area at the #10 hole attracted golfers and guests for lunch and a cocktail reception after play.

A unique awards ceremony concluded the marvelous day of golf. Continuing a Gladney Cup tradition, bagpipers heralded the ceremony's start with the pleasantly haunting sound of their music. Much to the delight of guests, the Gladney Kids closely followed the bagpipers. The Kids' endearing smiles, engaging laughter and boundless energy reminded all in attendance of the many reasons why the success of The Gladney Cup is so important in the lives of many children. It was a fitting close to another very successful tournament, because at the end of the day, it didn't really matter so much how the golfers played, but why.