Golf notebook
It's a name that is no doubt unfamiliar to most golf fans, but one that is becoming more and more popular.
As its name implies, the event is held Saturdays during a PGA Tour event. And when the Pennsylvania Classic is contested this fall, on Sept. 17-23, district golf fans will get to participate in the Saturday Pro-Am.
Tour players who don't make the cut after the first two rounds of the Pennsylvania Classic are invited to participate in the Saturday Series Pro-Am and up to 88 amateurs can play.
In this instance, the event will be held just down Route 30 from Laurel Valley Golf Club at Arnold Palmer's Latrobe Country Club.
'The event is endorsed by the Tour and run by K&E Golf Productions,' Pennsylvania Classic tournament director Joe Rotellini said. 'The players are compensated for playing in the event, which helps defray some of their costs as a result of not making the cut. And the money that's raised from the entry fee goes to our charities.'
K&E Golf Productions was founded by, and is chaired by, former PGA Tour pro Gary Hallberg.
The typical schedule for the event is an 8 a.m. shotgun start, with breakfast buffet and practice time prior to that.
Lunch and awards presentation to follow.
For more information on the Saturday Pro-Am Series or the tournament itself, call the Classic office at (724) 837-3117 or (888) 747-7576.
SAME TIME NEXT YEAR
It was nearly a year ago that a press conference was held not far from Washington, Pa., to announce plans for construction of a golf course that would be known as Royal Tartan Golf Course.
But a series of circumstances - getting permits, DEA issues and financing - have conspired to delay that process, which included a projected opening of this summer.
'The good news is the final permits have been issued and the banks are about to close on everything,' said William Stewart, the developer of the project.
'The bulldozer was unloaded from the truck (Saturday).'
Stewart said the plans now call for a practice range to be ready to go next spring, nine holes to be open the latter part of the spring and all 18 holes to be playable by July 2002.
The daily fee course is being designed by Ferdinand Garbin.
THE KID IS COMING
Ty Tryon, the 16-year-old Florida golfer who played in the Honda Classic and finished in a tie for 39th, is in the field for the 48th annual Sunnehanna Amateur at Sunnehanna Country Club on June 8-10.
He'll be joined by some of the best amateurs in the country, including a pair from western Pennsylvania, St. Jude's Sean Knapp and Latrobe's Jim Bryan.
The Amateur also has launched a new Web site, Sunnehanna.com, which will give fans up-to-date information about the event.
CLUBS FOR KIDS DAY
The annual Clubs for Kids Day, sponsored by Dick's Sporting Goods, will be conducted by the Tri-State Section PGA on May 19 at six area sites throughout western Pennsylvania.
Instruction at each site begins at 10 a.m. and is free of charge to all juniors 18 and under. On-site registration starts at 9:30, with the first 50 juniors receiving a free refurbished golf club and a free TSPBC/Dick's Sporting Goods T-shirt.
Juniors will have the opportunity to hit golf balls under supervision of a Tri-State PGA instructor, and a free hot dog and drink will be provided to all juniors after the instruction.
Sites are: Scarp's Driving Range, Norvelt (724) 378-6600; Tam O'Shanter Golf Course, Hermitage (7242) 981-3552; Scally's Golf Center, Moon Twp., (412) 264-9940; Family Golf Center at Cool Springs, Pittsburgh, (412) 831-5080; Ironwood Golf Center, Aliquippa, (724) 378-6600; Island Sports Center, Neville Island, (412) 262-3335.
MID-AM FIELD SET
Ninety-three players have entered the West Penn Mid-Amateur May 29 at Green Oaks Country Club in Verona. The field is limited to 78, so at this moment, 15 players will not be participating.
But West Penn Golf Association executive director Jeff Rivard said the tournament has been overbooked slightly three of the past four years and that withdrawals usually allow most of the players to get in.
GOLF PASS AVAILABLE
The 2001 American Cancer Society Golf Pass is available, with more free rounds of golf and golf discounts this year at more than 150 courses.
Recipients of the Golf Pass, which costs $30, can enter to win a free Get-A-Way weekend at the Nittany Lion Inn or the Penn Stater in State College. The entire cost of the $30 donation goes to the American Cancer Society.
To order a Golf Pass with a charge card, call 1-888-ACS-5445.
