More than 140 participants turned out for this year’s Gray Classic Golf Tournament, which raised money for 100 Black Men of Charlotte.

Tournament founder Herb Gray recently sat with Qcitymetro.com to talk about the past, present and future of the annual event. Gray also is founder of Life Enhancement Services, a nationally accredited provider of case management services to clients with mental and behavioral health disorders.

The Q&A below was edited for clarity and brevity.
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Q. How long have you been doing the Gray Classic?
On record it said this was our second year. Truly, this was our third year. Our first year I had only 12 or 13 guys. I was not a golfer. I’ve been playing golf only about a year and a half. So I just got some of my buddies together and said, “You’re going to play golf.” The second year I did it again but gave it an official name so that I could market the thing and ended up with seventy-some guys. That night we had a party and gave the money to the Urban League. This year we had 144.

Q. What’s the tournament about? What’s its purpose?
I wanted to do something in a different type of environment that wasn’t just party, that wasn’t just happy hour. I wanted something that could bring people together, an event where they could talk about ideas or businesses or things of that nature. It really didn’t have anything to do with golf, because again, I’m not a golfer. But if you just wanted to come out here, maybe you could meet someone who could advance your cause.

Q. Has it always been a benefit?
The first year it was not a benefit. The second year we did a party at night to benefit the Urban League. The third year I was looking for a partner. The 100 Black Men and I, we talked back and forth. They are mentoring kids who are trying to go on to college. I said if I could lift up what they were doing and raise corporate dollars then that’s what we would do.

Q. So you’re a member of 100 Black Men, right?
That’s another thing… I’m not a member. I’m not a golfer, and I’m not a member of 100 Black Men. I was just trying to bring people together.

Q. So why did I think you were a member?
Everybody thinks that. I had two people call the other day saying, “How do I join?” I said, “I don’t know; let me give you the name of somebody who may can help you.” I am so busy, and those guys are really committed. I think they do two Saturdays a month tutoring kids. I guess I could if the possibility presented itself. I just do my thing, and mine is trying to help causes, and they had a cause.

Q. This year you expanded beyond the golf tournament and after party.
My wife and I, Felicia Gray, we went back after that first year and said, “Now how can we bring in folks who may not be interested in golf. How do you make this thing even bigger. What we decided was to do a happy hour to kick the whole thing off. Then, between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., while the guys were playing golf, we gave ladies an opportunity to come to a brunch at our house. Then we had a party that night at the Sunset Club. Then on Sunday, to end it all, we had a brunch at Ruth’s Chris. The restaurant was packed. So there were folks who maybe attended only one of those events. And there were some who obviously attended multiple events.

Q. How much money did you raise?
Ruth’s Chris gave a portion of its money back. Sunset gave a part of its money back. We are still tallying, but right now I think it is up to about $33,000.

Q. Are you looking for a different benefit next year, or are you sticking with 100 Black Men?
My focus next year will be again to work with 100 Black Men. We have some more work we want to do together. It may not be my focus the year after, but right now, I think the two groups decided we had a good year together – let’s work together.

What’s the future of the Gray Classic?
It is rare to sell out a golf tournament. In fact, we sold out two weeks before. No telling how many people we could have gotten out there. There were just that many people asking about it. I think in the future we may tie in a seminar on entrepreneurship or maybe a seminar on some religious aspect. The thing is, I would like to continue to grow this as much as I can. I would like to continue to expand and have workshops and programs dedicated around that weekend – maybe even expand it out to Thursday next year. Another goal I have is to try to have a tennis tournament during that same time. The day of the tournament we had 16 or 17 kids out there, and those kids got to interact with individuals from all walks of life. My goal next year is to talk to the kids ahead of time. This child might say, “I want to be a newscaster, or I would like to be a school principal.” Next year I would like to actually have a person out there for each child who could say, “This is how you do it; this is what you’re going to need.”

Q. How is your golf game?
My golf game’s going good. Andre Springs – I know he wants the shoutout – Andre Springs is my golf coach up in Birkdale. I have a very stressful life. Golf really has helped tremendously. I go out there probably two or three times a week and just hit some golf balls. I’m in my own world. I turn my cell phone off, and it helps me out. I don’t know if I will every really do business playing golf, but I have met some really great men and women during the little more than a year I’ve been playing golf.
 

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