Organizers of the Hero Gala featuring Andrea Bocelli plans golf tournament, too

The Hero Gala, which is featuring a performance by Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli at Mar-a-Lago on Feb. 4, also advertises a golf tournament the next day, Feb. 5.

The golf event's location isn't disclosed. The website just says Palm Beach.

The venue isn't listed, either, on the website of the gala's nonprofit sponsor, a newly created charity called the World Series of Golf Foundation. The foundation is registered as a 501(c)(3) organization with the Internal Revenue Service.

The leader of the Hero Gala and golf foundation, Miami resident L.J. Foley, did not respond to an emailed request for information about the golf tournament.

More: Gala featuring Andrea Bocelli at Mar-a-Lago has charitable aims, partisan celebrity invitees

The golf tournament, like the gala, is advertised by organizers as fundraisers for veterans, first responders and dog rescuers. The website lists a roster of celebrities scheduled to attend.

But one celebrity formerly advertised as a participant said he will not show up: Otis Birdsong, the former professional basketball player who played 12 seasons in the NBA and was a four-time league All-Star.

"I was invited, but I won't be able to make it," Birdsong said in a Jan. 17 telephone interview.

Birdsong said he was invited to the event because he is an avid participant in golf tournaments, but that he never accepted the invitation.

When told on Jan. 17 that the Hero Gala was using his name and photo on its website as a confirmed attendee, Birdsong wasn't happy. He said event organizers need to "take that off."

Birdsong said he is careful to stay away from any events that can be perceived as or that are political in nature. "And anything at Mar-a-Lago, you're tied to former President Trump," he said.

A check of the Hero Gala website on Jan. 23 showed Birdsong's name and photo were removed from the main page of the website.

The roster of celebrities listed as attendees of the Feb. 5 golf gala event was posted in mid-January online, removed Jan. 27-28, and then reappeared on the website on Jan. 31. Part-time Palm Beach resident Sylvester Stallone had been on the list, but he is no longer included, although the bulk of celebrities including the actor Kevin Sorbo, former Miami Heat star Glen Rice and media celebrity Siggy Flicker remain.

Is group behind gala featuring Andrea Bocelli also planning another celebrity golf tourney in March?

Meanwhile, nearly 150 actors and musicians are listed on the World Series of Golf Foundation's website as celebrities "invited or confirmed" for an unspecified upcoming golf event this spring.

The tournament date or location is not listed on the golf foundation website.

Nevertheless, the website urged people to buy tickets and sponsorships, touting the entity's nonprofit status as a benefit: "Most golf tournaments tickets are not for charity and therefore are NOT tax deductible, you won't see as many celebrities all in one place, and you get a commemorative gift as well! AMAZING DEAL."

An EventBrite announcement listed a March 29-31 golf tournament at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, hosted by the World Series of Golf Foundation.

The golf foundation said on its website that it invited "A-List celebrities" and musicians who are known golfers to support their cause.

The invited or attending actors include George Clooney, Tom Cruise, Matt Damon, Kevin Coster, Hugh Grant, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Halle Berry and Heather Locklear, according to the website.

Golfing musicians invited or attending include performer Justin Bieber, rocker Alice Cooper, Don Felder of The Eagles rock band, lead singer Adam Levine of Maroon 5, Linkin Park bassist Dave Farrell, saxophonist Kenny G, Kid Rock, actor Justin Timberlake and singer Harry Styles, according to the website.

The celebrities' reported golf handicaps are listed underneath their names and photos on the golf foundation website.

No further information could be obtained about the planned event.

Alexandra Clough is a business writer at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at aclough@pbpost.com. X: @acloughpbp. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Hero Gala with Andrea Bocelli to host golf event at undisclosed course