As the founder of one of the largest golf retailers in the world, Edwin Watts spent most of his adult life building and operating Edwin Watts Golf.  

These days, Watts is putting that same level of commitment to a different passion — music. As the founder of The Mulligans, an 8-piece band made up of locals who share his love for music, Watts is having fun and making a difference for charities along the Emerald Coast of Florida.  

Last year the band raised more than $100,000 for charity at special events.  

This year, the Mulligans are teeing up for their biggest event yet: Summer Jam 16, set for June 10 at the Emerald Coast Convention Center on Okaloosa Island in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. The doors open at 6 p.m. and music and dancing start at 7 p.m.  

“The Mulligans are the most diverse group of guys to ever play together,” said band member Dan Mossman. “From a CEO/businessman to a Marine Corps fighter pilot and airline pilot, a professional musician to a Navy EOD specialist to a pastor, we share a love of music and a passion for performing.”  

The Mulligans are partnering with Not Quite Fab, a popular Beatles tribute band, for a celebration of ’60s and ’70s music.   The event will benefit the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, which provides college scholarships and educational counseling to surviving children of special ops personnel killed in the line of duty.  

“Not Quite Fab is a great band; they sound exactly like The Beatles,” Watts said. “We’re planning on this being a really huge and patriotic event.”   Watts hopes to have more than 1,000 people at the concert, which will feature upbeat music for the entire family.  

“There will be lots of dancing and singing, all for a great cause,” Watts said. “The top guy from the Special Operations Warrior Foundation will be there, along with some of the families who have benefited from the foundation. Unfortunately, we have many people in our local area who have lost a loved one who was in special operations.”