BANGOR – Hollywood Slots at Bangor is putting its money on the Greater Bangor Open Golf Tournament this year.

For the first time in 20 years, the GBO will have a major sponsor.

The 40th edition of the tournament, scheduled for July 19-22 at Bangor Municipal Golf Course, will be known as the Greater Bangor Open, sponsored by Hollywood Slots at Bangor.

While representatives of both Hollywood Slots at Bangor and Greater Bangor Golf Tournament Inc. declined to reveal the amount of the sponsorship, both are happy to be part of the new relationship.

“This provides us with a much better financial base than we’ve had in years past,” said GBO vice president Free Martin. “If we receive the support from the community and professional partners like we have, then the board will definitely look at increasing the purse and the amount of dollars we contribute to local charity.”

Amy Kenney, manager of marketing and public relations for Hollywood Slots at Bangor, said, “Our focus is more on what we’re doing with the folks at the Greater Bangor Open … and participating in the Greater Bangor community. We are honored to be the title sponsor of this prestigious event.”

The last time the GBO had a named sponsor was in 1986, with Miller High Life beer. Before Miller, there were Pepsi-Cola and Jordan’s Meats.

Miller’s commitment, delivered through the old Haffenreffer Beverage Co. in Brewer, was $3,500 in ’86, when the purse was $25,000. The current purse (which has been the same since 1994) is $50,000, including $11,000 for the winner.

For many years, the tourney has made donations to charity, such as Special Olympics for many years.

“We will probably give to the YMCA [youth golf clinic] again to promote golf in the area,” said Martin.

Hollywood Slots opened its slot machine facility in the former Miller’s Restaurant building on Main Street in November.

“This is a fairly new position for us as title sponsor,” said Kenney.

“We have partnered with other events in the community. We were a sponsor of the American Folk Festival last year, and we will again this year,” added Kenney, “and we participate in the Rockland Blues Festival.

“We’ve made donations and sponsorships to other organizations as well – the [Bangor] Garden Show, United Cerebral Palsy – and we’ve adopted a park, Hayford’s Park [which holds the swimming pool on Union Street and the playground area next to Mansfield Stadium on Thirteenth Street].”

Kenney said Hollywood Slots may do more than just give money to the GBO.

“There may be ways we can organize with the committee, have volunteers there,” said Kenney. “That would be a great way to show our support.”

The GBO’s courtship of Hollywood Slots at Bangor began during last July’s tournament.

“General manager Jon Johnson had just moved to Bangor last year and he played in the pro-am,” said Martin. “Simultaneously, he was approached and saw the value for being a major sponsor for the 40th GBO.”

The agreement was completed last month.

Meanwhile, Martin said, members of the committee will still be out talking to potential gold ($1,000) and silver ($300) sponsors.

“The board of directors plans to be as aggressive as we have in the past in asking for local support and pro-am participation,” said Martin.

Opinions expressed before the November 2004 racino vote which paved the way for Hollywood Slots were both for and against, but Martin doesn’t expect that will have much of an effect, if any, on fundraising.

“The board briefly discussed that [repercussions of having Hollywood Slots as major sponsor], but we have found them to be a reputable and responsible business,” said Martin.

The current agreement is only for this year’s event.

“They have made a commitment for 2006,” said Martin. “If it goes as smoothly as we hope, they have expressed an interest in doing it in the future.”

Kenney added, “We’ll look at what the results are, the success of the event, and use that to make a decision for 2007.

“We look for the GBO to be a success like it has been over the past [39] years.”

Martin wants the same thing – and more.

“We want to strengthen the field, strengthen the tournament, and having a major sponsor like Hollywood Slots at Bangor will help us achieve our goal,” he said.