Bellewood Country Club, an exclusive golf club in North Coventry Township, will be the site of a charity golf tournament on Monday, July 21, which will benefit Animal House Project (AHP), a nonprofit organization that serves pet owners in need. By operating a pet food pantry and offering veterinary services, such as a discounted pet vaccine clinic, AHP aims to keep companion pets in their homes and out of shelters and rescues.

This year, which marks the seventh annual golf outing, is not only being held at a new venue, but will also have different start times than in previous years and include dinner.

The day will start at 11:30 a.m. with registration, and all golfers will receive a boxed lunch. There will be a shotgun start at 1 p.m. At the end of play, a dinner will be served in the ballroom. Attendees will also have an opportunity to win gift baskets.

The registration fee includes range balls, green fees, the use of a cart, a swag bag, access to the locker rooms and free beverages on the course. There will also be prizes for the best golfers in various categories as well as a $25,000 cash prize for a hole-in-one.

MaryBeth Yannessa, AHP board president, noted last year's event drew 92 golfers. This year, play is limited to 90 players.

She said that golfers may enjoy playing at Bellewood, which is a private club. "You are playing at an exclusive course," she said, noting that the course is only open to the public during two or three charity events per year.

Proceeds from the tournament will be used to fund AHP, which began in June of 2001 as the 2 Moon Junction Animal House Project, a no-kill animal rescue group in East Fallowfield Township. After realizing that most of the animals were being surrendered because families could not afford to feed or provide basic veterinary care for them, Yannessa formed the Chester County Pet Food Pantry in 2004. It later became known as Animal House Project.

Most recently, AHP has announced that Diane's Pet Supplies & Adoption Center, which has had a presence in Chester County since 1989, is now owned by Animal House Project.

"We are now considered a humane society. We have the pet food pantry, the rescue food pantry and we took over Diane's Pet Supplies, where we offer a low-cost vaccination clinic," Yannessa explained. "We have the retail store, which will hopefully help us pay for the rescue operation."

Yannessa also announced that Diane's now has a new name - Animal House Retail for Rescue.

Pet food distributions take place on the first Saturday of each month from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the pantry, 72 Robinson St., Pottstown.

"The store has a vaccination clinic on the first Saturday of the month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.," Yannessa added.

AHP is always in need of financial donations, pet food donations and volunteers willing to work at events and on distribution days. For more information, visit www.animalhouseproject.org or www.facebook.com/AnimalHouseProject1, call 484-949-8329 or email info@animalhouseproject.org.

Bellewood Country Club is located at 400 E. Schuylkill Road (Route 724), Pottstown. The event will be held rain or shine. Individual golfers may also participate and will be placed in groups of four.

For more information and to register for the golf tournament, visit www.AHPCharityGolfTournament.org. Sponsorships are also available.