It’s not just any golf tournament.

The people who hit the greens for the Treasurer’s Annual United Way Golf Tournament, which gets off to a shotgun start at 10 a.m. Sept. 19 at the Nansemond River Golf Club, will also be raising money to help enhance the lives of countless Suffolk residents.

“It’s a lot of fun,” said Treasurer Ron Williams, who has sponsored annual fundraiser to benefit the United Way of South Hampton Roads for the past 12 years.

“It’s for a great cause. We believe that the United Way is the best way to help the most people.”

Over the years, the golf tournament has generated more than $100,000 for the agency, Williams said.

He is hoping this year’s tournament will net $20,000, which will account for approximately 20 percent of the city employees’ $117,000 United Way campaign goal.

Usually, all of the tournament proceeds are put into the organization’s fund for reallocation to any of the more than 70 United Way-approved nonprofits that serve the Suffolk community, Williams said.

This year, things are being done a little differently. Half of the proceeds will go into the United Way’s undesignated account.

The remaining 50 percent will be halved between two United Way-designated nonprofits, the Colonial Coast Boy Scout Council and the American Cancer Society.

The money that goes to scouts will be used to help fund the Bayport Scout Reservation, a new scout camp that recently opened on the Virginia’s Northern Neck, Williams said.

The cancer society donation will be earmarked for pancreatic cancer research, an area that has hit close to home for Williams recently. His brother was diagnosed with the disease in January.

“That’s when I began researching pancreatic cancer on the Internet,” he said, adding that United Way executives have endorsed his proposal to designate the proceeds to the two organizations. “Pancreatic cancer is not picked up easily … because the symptoms are so vague.”

So far, about 75 golfers have signed on to participate in the tournament, said Shirley Snead, coordinator of the event. There is still time – and space – for another 50 or more players.

The cost is $400 for a four-person team or $100 per individual player. Players will be treated to breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as a plethora of donated prizes.

“There will be a lot of giveaways throughout the day,” Williams said.

A Sept. 29 rain date has been set.

Anyone interested in playing can call Snead at 514-4284 as soon as possible.