Save the Date! The 2025 Bowtie Classic Golf Outing and Knowledge Open will be held on Saturday, September 6, 2025 at Forest Hills Golf Course in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

See more about the 2024 Bowtie Classic Golf Outing and Knowledge Open.


About the Bowtie Classic

The Bowtie Classic golf scramble is the LPEF’s primary annual fundraiser in support of classroom grants and other programs.

The event is named in honor of Dr. Charles Miller III, a co-founder of LPEF and a longtime member of the Board of Education in La Crosse. Dr. Miller — who was known for his signature bowties — was a surgeon at Gundersen Health System. He died unexpectedly while playing racquetball in May 2011. Susan Miller and her family continue to be very involved in the event, including providing sponsorship money to allow student teams to golf in the Bowtie Classic.

The Bowtie Classic includes a unique feature: the Knowledge Open Challenge. At each hole National Honor Society students ask teams trivia questions for an opportunity to improve their golf score. Final scores are based on your team’s scramble score and combined with performance on the quiz!

  • First place (lowest score) wins a $1000 grant to their school
  • Second-lowest score wins a $500 grant to their school
  • Third-lowest score wins a $250 grant to their school
  • Highest score wins a $250 grant to their school

Other fun events include a chance to win raffle prizes, hole prizes, a 50/50 Chip Shot contest, and a 50/50 raffle.


The Bowtie Classic provides vital support for Gold Star Grants, Random Acts of Kindness, and LPEF’s other programs.