Iconic hot dog stand serves bigger purpose
If there’s one thing Martin Calfee knows, it’s how to run a successful business at the WM Phoenix Open.
Calfee, a lifetime member of the Thunderbirds, is the driving force behind the Lifebird Grill, a hot dog and beer tent that donates its profits to charity.
Now in his 26th year overseeing the operation, the 86-year-old has turned the charity initiative into a staple at the Open.
“The same people come back here and a lot of them are people who can’t wait to get back here,” Calfee said. “They love the hot dogs and they love coming here.”
His attention to detail is poured into the estimated 6,300 hot dogs made yearly at the Open at the 10th hole.
Calfee is particular about his process for making the right hot dogs. Working as an assistant in his first year overseeing the tent, the hot dogs were all frozen and weren’t up to his standards. Since then, he’s taken the frozen hot dogs and boiled them down in beer and grilled them over the fire.
While he’s proud of how his work has turned out, he’s even more grateful for how his craft has helped others. Each year, the stand makes $30,000 for charity.
“I’ve been very fortunate in my life,” Calfee said. “I got a great wife and five great daughters. I got to give a little back and that’s what I consider doing.”
Driving for charity
The Thunderbirds also host on contest with Arizona Ford Dealers where players' tee shots on the 16th hole become part of a closet-to-the-pin contest over the first two rounds. The player with the combined closest distances will win the “Ford Drive One for Arizona Charities” contest and will earn $10,000 for a local non-profit of their choice.
Last year, Justin Thomas won and the money went to Boys & Girls Clubs of America. This year’s participating nonprofits include Arizona Humane Society, Arizona Trail Association, Arizona Recycling Coalition, Chicanos por La Causa, JDRF, Keep Arizona Beautiful, Ronald McDonald House of Phoenix, Salvation Army, St. Mary’s Food Bank, and Valleywise Health Foundation.
Hold your beer
Last year’s shenanigans at the 16th hole unknowingly marked an end to an era.
Sam Ryder’s hole-in-one at the famed hole during the third round sent a shower of beer and a mountain of aluminum bottles for the crew to clean up.
In hopes of not repeating last year’s delay that clocked in at nearly 15 minutes, the tournament will serve all alcoholic beverages in a commemorative green cup.
How much the Open brings
An economic impact study conducted by Arizona State University’s Seidman Research Institute at W.P. Carey School of Business found that last year’s Open generated $453.7 million into Arizona’s economy.
For the total economic impact, it was also reported that the Open has an employment impact of 4,290 jobs.