The Diffie Classic Golf Tournament & Concert
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The 2nd Annual Diffie Classic, a two-day golf and music tribute honoring country music legend Joe Diffie, will take place September 21–22, 2026.
The event kicks off Monday, September 21, with a golf tournament at 12 Stones Crossing Golf Club in Goodlettsville, Tennessee. Festivities continue Tuesday, September 22, with a live concert at the Nashville Palace featuring a variety of artists.
Proceeds from this year’s event will benefit First Steps, a Nashville-based organization that was especially meaningful to Diffie and his family. Diffie’s son, Tyler, who has Down syndrome, attended First Steps’ early intervention and child development programs for several years. From 1992 through 2004, Diffie supported the organization by hosting the Country Steps In For First Steps concerts and golf tournaments.
“Dad loved golf and his family and was deeply appreciative of everything First Steps did for Tyler,” said Parker Diffie and Travis Humes, Diffie’s sons and organizers of The Diffie Classic. “We’re proud to partner with First Steps to help further their important work in our community.”
“From the earliest days of his rise in country music, Joe Diffie made an intentional commitment to give back to the community he loved,” said Heather Higgins, First Steps Executive Director. “Through years of concerts and golf tournaments, he championed the mission of First Steps, sharing widely the importance of early intervention for children with special needs and medical conditions. As a father, he personally understood our mission through the eyes of his son Tyler. We are incredibly proud to see Joe Diffie’s legacy come full circle again through his family’s support, and we remain deeply grateful for their continued partnership.”
The golf tournament will feature four-person teams competing in a traditional best-ball scramble format. Team registration is $800 and includes access to both days of events, as well as golf, cart, meals, beverages, and event swag and can be made HERE.
Sponsorship opportunities are available, ranging from a $500 Gold Hole Sponsor to a $5,000 Platinum Title Sponsor. For more information, please contact [email protected].
The concert on Tuesday night at the Nashville Palace is included with golf registration. A limited number of standalone concert tickets will also be available for fans not participating in the tournament.
ABOUT FIRST STEPS:
The mission of First Steps is to educate and care for children with special needs and medical conditions alongside their typically developing peers in inclusive environments and support their families. Central to the First Steps vision is the understanding that the early intervention years are critical in setting children and families up for long-term success.
Our vision is to:
- Enhance the quality of life for children and their families.
- Eliminate barriers to services for children with special needs.
- Empower families as they seek to meet the needs of their children.
- Improve the community as a whole: child by child, family by family.
- Celebrate each child's unique potential.
First Steps educates and cares for children with a wide range of special needs/medical conditions in inclusive environments and supports their families. Diagnoses range from autism spectrum disorders, Down Syndrome, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, failure to thrive, seizure disorder, trisomy 13 and many others. Some children are medically fragile, immunocompromised, have a gastronomy tube, or other conditions making it difficult for families to find services and care.
First Steps fulfills its mission with three programs:
· Pediatric Therapy Program offers weekly speech-language, physical, occupational, and feeding therapies for children with special needs (birth-12).
· Community Outreach Program provides Developmental Therapy for children (birth-five), and their caregivers. This program takes place in home-based and community settings, and telehealth visits are available for those with children who are at high risk of illness.
· Child Development Center is an inclusive preschool providing early childhood learning for both children with special needs and typically developing children, ages (6 weeks-6 years). This program serves those who are often turned away from other programs due to the severity of their health issues, medical needs or limited resources.
ABOUT JOE DIFFIE:
GRAMMY Award-winning artist, songwriter and philanthropist, Joe Logan Diffie moved to Nashville from Tulsa in the mid-1980s and quickly became an in-demand demo singer. He signed with Epic Records Nashville in 1990, and over the next 14 years, charted 35 singles. Five of those released reached number one on the national country charts including “Home,” “If The Devil Danced (In Empty Pockets),” “Third Rock From The Sun,” “Pickup Man,” and “Bigger Than The Beatles.”
Jason Aldean paid tribute to Diffie and name-checked many of the veteran entertainer’s classics in his hit “1994.” The video featured Luke Bryan, Thomas Rhett, Little Big Town, Jake Owen and others paying homage to the man who influenced them.
With over 30 years in the spotlight, Diffie had the honor of being inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame and was a member of the Grand Ole Opry. His contributions to First Steps led to being presented with the prestigious Humanitarian Award from the Country Radio Broadcasters in 1997. Diffie passed away from complications of COVID-19 in 2020.
The 2nd Annual Diffie Classic, a two-day golf and music tribute honoring country music legend Joe Diffie, will take place September 21–22, 2026.
The event kicks off Monday, September 21, with a golf tournament at 12 Stones Crossing Golf Club in Goodlettsville, Tennessee. Festivities continue Tuesday, September 22, with a live concert at the Nashville Palace featuring a variety of artists.
Proceeds from this year’s event will benefit First Steps, a Nashville-based organization that was especially meaningful to Diffie and his family. Diffie’s son, Tyler, who has Down syndrome, attended First Steps’ early intervention and child development programs for several years. From 1992 through 2004, Diffie supported the organization by hosting the Country Steps In For First Steps concerts and golf tournaments.
“Dad loved golf and his family and was deeply appreciative of everything First Steps did for Tyler,” said Parker Diffie and Travis Humes, Diffie’s sons and organizers of The Diffie Classic. “We’re proud to partner with First Steps to help further their important work in our community.”
“From the earliest days of his rise in country music, Joe Diffie made an intentional commitment to give back to the community he loved,” said Heather Higgins, First Steps Executive Director. “Through years of concerts and golf tournaments, he championed the mission of First Steps, sharing widely the importance of early intervention for children with special needs and medical conditions. As a father, he personally understood our mission through the eyes of his son Tyler. We are incredibly proud to see Joe Diffie’s legacy come full circle again through his family’s support, and we remain deeply grateful for their continued partnership.”
The golf tournament will feature four-person teams competing in a traditional best-ball scramble format. Team registration is $800 and includes access to both days of events, as well as golf, cart, meals, beverages, and event swag and can be made HERE.
Sponsorship opportunities are available, ranging from a $500 Gold Hole Sponsor to a $5,000 Platinum Title Sponsor. For more information, please contact [email protected].
The concert on Tuesday night at the Nashville Palace is included with golf registration. A limited number of standalone concert tickets will also be available for fans not participating in the tournament.
ABOUT FIRST STEPS:
The mission of First Steps is to educate and care for children with special needs and medical conditions alongside their typically developing peers in inclusive environments and support their families. Central to the First Steps vision is the understanding that the early intervention years are critical in setting children and families up for long-term success.
Our vision is to:
- Enhance the quality of life for children and their families.
- Eliminate barriers to services for children with special needs.
- Empower families as they seek to meet the needs of their children.
- Improve the community as a whole: child by child, family by family.
- Celebrate each child's unique potential.
First Steps educates and cares for children with a wide range of special needs/medical conditions in inclusive environments and supports their families. Diagnoses range from autism spectrum disorders, Down Syndrome, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, failure to thrive, seizure disorder, trisomy 13 and many others. Some children are medically fragile, immunocompromised, have a gastronomy tube, or other conditions making it difficult for families to find services and care.
First Steps fulfills its mission with three programs:
· Pediatric Therapy Program offers weekly speech-language, physical, occupational, and feeding therapies for children with special needs (birth-12).
· Community Outreach Program provides Developmental Therapy for children (birth-five), and their caregivers. This program takes place in home-based and community settings, and telehealth visits are available for those with children who are at high risk of illness.
· Child Development Center is an inclusive preschool providing early childhood learning for both children with special needs and typically developing children, ages (6 weeks-6 years). This program serves those who are often turned away from other programs due to the severity of their health issues, medical needs or limited resources.
ABOUT JOE DIFFIE:
GRAMMY Award-winning artist, songwriter and philanthropist, Joe Logan Diffie moved to Nashville from Tulsa in the mid-1980s and quickly became an in-demand demo singer. He signed with Epic Records Nashville in 1990, and over the next 14 years, charted 35 singles. Five of those released reached number one on the national country charts including “Home,” “If The Devil Danced (In Empty Pockets),” “Third Rock From The Sun,” “Pickup Man,” and “Bigger Than The Beatles.”
Jason Aldean paid tribute to Diffie and name-checked many of the veteran entertainer’s classics in his hit “1994.” The video featured Luke Bryan, Thomas Rhett, Little Big Town, Jake Owen and others paying homage to the man who influenced them.
With over 30 years in the spotlight, Diffie had the honor of being inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame and was a member of the Grand Ole Opry. His contributions to First Steps led to being presented with the prestigious Humanitarian Award from the Country Radio Broadcasters in 1997. Diffie passed away from complications of COVID-19 in 2020.
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Where is it happening?
Twelve Stones Xing, Goodlettsville, TN 37072, United States
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
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