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A dozen athletes and celebrities, including new Detroit Lions coach Jim Schwartz and Flint's own Charlie Bell of the Milwaukee Bucks, will tee it up next Wednesday at the Buick Open pro-am at Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club.

The 2009 Pure Michigan Pro-Am also will feature Lions players Jason Hanson, Dominic Raiola and Drew Stanton; Detroit Red Wings players Kirk Maltby and Dan Cleary; new Detroit Pistons coach John Kuester and former Pistons greats Bill Laimbeer and Vinnie Johnson and Birmingham native and current Houston Rockets player Shane Battier. Sports radio host Bill Simonson of the "The Huge Show" also will participate.

"The pro-am is shaping up to be one of the most prolific that we've had in years," said tournament director Robb Grainger. "This year's Pure Michigan Pro-Am is worth watching - and we've even made a special $20 ticket price for the day and will allow cameras so that more fans can enjoy the action."

The special $20 ticket (normally $30) is available only at the tournament gates and not through Ticketmaster. Unlike on tournament days, fans may bring in cameras and take pictures of celebrities and golfers. A PGA Tour player is in every pro-am group.

A few spots remain in the pro-am at a cost of $5,000 per individual or $20,000 for a foursome. Each playing spot includes a Buick Open gift pack, two clubhouse hospitality tickets per day (Wednesday-Sunday) with food and beverage included, six clubhouse badges, 20 any-day tickets, one valet parking pass good for every day of the tournament and two invitations to the Pro-Am Pairings party. The pairings party is held Monday and allows each team to select the professional they want to play with.

To reserve a spot in the pro-am, or for details on any sponsorship opportunities that remain, contact Jason Mengel at (313) 596-9027 or e-mail jason.mengel@gmrworks.com

For more Buick Open ticket information, visit www.ticketmaster.com or call (800) 878-OPEN.