NASHVILLE, TN. (Top40 Charts) A beloved yearly event took place on May 14-15, 2015, at the Harpeth Hills Golf Course, as a good portion of Nashville's audio community took a break from their work to join in the festivities at the 18th Annual AudioMasters Benefit Golf Tournament. The two days of networking, camaraderie and fun in the sun also serve as the primary fund-raiser benefiting the Nashville Engineer Relief Fund (NERF). It is held as a production of the Audio Engineering Society Nashville Section on behalf of NERF, Inc.
Day One (Thursday, May 14) was the "JBL Professional AudioMasters," focusing on the Live Sound industry and welcoming JBL Professional as the title sponsor. Day Two (Friday, May 15) was the "Sweetwater AudioMasters," the studio community-focused day under the banner of perennial title sponsor Sweetwater Sound. Both days included breakfast, open driving range, a four-person scramble, and awards receptions following the golf, along with an abundance of treats and beverages along the way.
Golfing foursomes consisted of award-winning producers and engineers, management from top manufacturers, and other industry figures - all competing on 18 holes for laughs, bragging rights, or something in between.
Sponsors provided support for the event in various capacities - hosting holes or special prizes, useful swag, general financial support, and more, with some even joining in the golfing themselves! Those hosting the holes each gave it their own twist - most provided food or other refreshments, along with side games, product demos, and plenty of networking opportunities. API's booth offered seafood cocktails and mini-margaritas, CRAS returned with their Sonoran hot dogs, Blackbird offered barbecue and a live band, Clair Global had Indian food and a Nashville-style writer's round, and Georgetown Masters turned up the heat with Nashville Hot Chicken, to name just a few. First-time sponsor Crown Seating gave away six Stealth chairs in a putting competition, and owner Steve Knight trumped the field with his Team Crown Seating winning possession of the AudioMasters Cup for both days of play.
"Nashville has such an awesome group of audio professionals and this event shows everyone's commitment towards a common goal," said Mike Porter, Chair of the Nashville AES Section—the section gave birth to NERF and annually produces the AudioMasters. "The list includes student volunteers, tournament sponsors, players, the crew at Harpeth Hills Golf Course, and so many others that give their time to make this event happen, not once, but twice in two days. As a result of their investments of time, effort and financial support, NERF is able to provide a hand-up to individuals in need."
The full list of sponsors included JBL Professional, Sweetwater, Genelec, Sound Construction and Supply, J Sound Services, DCR
Digital Console Rentals & Rack Armor, The Conservatory of Recording Arts & Sciences (CRAS), RRF/The Recording Connection Audio Institute, Georgetown Masters, Clear-Com, Vine Street Liquors, Las
Vegas Pro Audio/ATC, Grand Victor Sound, Clyne Media, Solid
State Logic (SSL), Pepper's Pro Shop,
Black River Entertainment at Sound Stage, NTS Pro Media, Vintage King, API, Clair Global, Froggy's Fog LLC, Echo Mountain, Southern Ground Nashville, Welcome to 1979 Studios, Audio-Technica, Iron Mountain, Blackbird Audio Rentals and Studios, Crown Seating, Pro Sound News/Pro Audio Review, MIX Magazine, The Recording Academy® Nashville Chapter/P&E Wing, Trew Audio, Corky's BBQ and Ribs of Brentwood, Morris Light and Sound, Recording Studio Insurance Program and Focusrite/Novation. Special thanks to student volunteers from Belmont University, SAE Nashville and Middle Tennessee
State University.
About the Nashville Engineer Relief Fund:
The Nashville Engineer Relief Fund originated through the efforts of the AES Nashville Section and NAPRS in holding the 1st Annual Audio Yard Sale in Sept. 1997. Proceeds from this initial event assisted with the financial recuperation of a Nashville engineer who was stricken with a life-threatening health problem. In May 1998, the 1st AudioMasters Benefit Golf Tournament began as the primary fund-raising event contributing to NERF, and has been held at the Harpeth Hills Golf Course every May since. The stated goal of this fund is "to allow financial assistance…for individuals in our (engineering) community who, through illness and tragic circumstances, are unable to practice their profession or face other serious problems."
