Page 170 - South Mississippi Living - September, 2025

SPORTS & OUTDOORS
story by Tommy Snell graphics courtesy of Slavic Invitational
Where y’at? That’s all the slang golfers need to know when searching courses and tee times in what locals call “the largest 4-ball event in
the U.S.” The dialect might sound different, but golfers and their guests recognize the lingo.
Every September the Slavic Invitational welcomes golfers from several states to the biggest par-tee on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The best local cuisine jumps in carts faster than mullets leap from Back Bay.
Rock Sekul won the inaugural event
in 1974 when it was an individual championship, and every year after
the tournament that raises money for scholarships has grown faster than Bermuda rough in the summer. The “Juga” quickly became a flighted four-ball tournament that allows golfers of all levels a chance to win.
Like so many others in the Slavic community, Louann Sekul remembers
170 | September 2025 2 | December 2020
how much Rock loved the “Juga” and everyone involved. “I just loved it when it was at the lodge,” she beamed. “I loved seeing the people and catching up with all of them.”
Damian Hughes has volunteered since 1988 when he was 15 years old. “This will be my 36th Slavic,” he said. “It’s great
to see the players who I really consider family. I love working with FoFo and David and seeing everybody every year,” he added.
Mayor FoFo Gilich and David Leckich have seen the Slavic grow to as many
as 550 teams at its peak. To put that in perspective, imagine feeding 2,200 golfers and guests Friday and Saturday nights. The volunteers and Slavonian Women’s Auxiliary made it look as easy as a drive- through window.
After Point Cadet Plaza serves up boiled shrimp and barbecue for players on Thursday, the Slavonian Lodge on Maple Street will host golfers and their guests
to amazing food and fun. Nobody does
Shrimp Spaghetti and Prime Rib like the St. Nickoli Slavonian Benevolent Society.
Exciting camaraderie tees off September 25-28 on four Mississippi Gulf Coast courses where players will enjoy 54 holes of golf, roast beef pistolettes, and chilled beverages Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
For more information, visit www. slavicinvitational.com.
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