Imagine having a Paul Williams song of your own -- just like Three Dog Night, The Carpenters and Kermit the Frog.
As a longtime player in the Hilton Head Island Celebrity Golf Tournament, Williams is offering his song-writing talents this year to the highest bidder to help raise money for 20 Lowcountry children's charities. Bids in a silent auction will begin at $6,000, but his songs, which include classics such as "We've Only Just Begun," "Rainy Days and Mondays" and "You and Me Against the World," are worth about $20,000.
Williams is among 30 celebrities who will participate in the 32nd annual tournament, which begins Aug. 31 and runs through Sept. 2.
Country music stars Josh and Zach Carter of the band Kingston will return home to Hilton Head Island on Aug. 31 to take part in the tournament for the first time. The 21-year-old twins moved here when they were 15.
Spectators can hang out with the stars for free at the tournament, which has raised $3.9 million since it began in 1979.
"We want people to interact with the celebrities and be able to get autographs from the celebrities," said Blanche Sullivan, public relations chairwoman for the event. She said the best time to get autographs is early in the morning before the 9 a.m. shotgun start or around 11 a.m. and noon at the clubhouses when players take a lunch break.
From television actors to singers, designers and professional athletes and coaches, celebrities making their inaugural appearance on Hilton Head include former Boston Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield, and Taniya Nayak, HGTV's "House Hunters on Vacation" host and designer on the Food Network's "Restaurant: Impossible."
"West Wing's" Richard Schiff and "American Idol" season two finalist Kimberley Locke are also taking a turn on the three courses.
Returning celebrities include Brian Baumgartner of "The Office," and Skid Row's Phil Varone.
In addition to playing golf, Food Network chefs Beau McMillan and Robert Irvine will serve up an evening of food and entertainment at Saturday's Pasta Bowl Event.
New this year is a nod to the military: Folds of Honor, which provides scholarship money to disabled or deceased members of the military's families.
The shotgun starts will ensure stars on every hole and a pairings list will be available from the organizers to allow spectators to find their favorite stars.
"Celebrities will be scattered along the route and spectators are invited to set up chairs along the route," Sullivan said. "The celebrities are really approachable and nice."
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