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Larry Woodard with PGA Tour star Camilo Villegas at Torrey Pines.
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Just a year after the PGA Tour surpassed the one billion dollar mark in money raised for charity, White Plains resident Larry Woodard decided to use his promotional talents—and his love for golf—to raise money for various causes in Westchester. As the man behind the famous Oprah car giveaway, Woodard understands how to stage high-profile events. In real life, he’s the CEO of Vigilante Advertising in Manhattan. In addition to GM’s Buick division, he does advertising for Heineken and the USTA.
“Because golf has been part of so many of our ventures,” Woodard explains, “I’ve played in a ton of pro-ams. The golf thing runs deep with me, so I decided to start a golf charity consulting business and use my platinum golf Rolodex to up the ante and increase the dollars raised by the events.” Woodard says his passion for the game came from his father, Graham “Woody” Woodard, who learned the game playing on military bases.
The first assignment for Larry Woodard Golf was a fund-raiser for the New Rochelle High School Booster’s Club at Wykagyl Country Club in 2006. This year, he’s preparing for the third iteration of the All-Westchester Charity Shoot Out to be played August 23 at Hudson Hills. He’s also planning a golf festival and club fitting as well as a youth event at White Plains Golf Driving Range on Dobbs Ferry Road. More information can be found at larrywoodardgolf.com
Some of the organizations that have benefited from Woodard’s expertise include the Westchester Coalition for the Hungry and Homeless, YMCA, the Slater Center, and the Westchester Music Conservatory.
Woodard’s sights are set high. He says, “My lofty goal is to one day shut down all the county courses on one day for charity.” •
