|
Local tours join forces with USSSA
By STEVE
WILLIAMS
Using the
time-tested strength-in-numbers rationale, the Atlantic Coast Golf Tour, the
Triad Golf Today Junior Tour and the United States Specialty Sports Association
have formed a bond.
The three
organizations are hoping that the agreement will give them an edge as
competition for players becomes more intense.
The Triad Golf
Today Junior Tour was founded 10 years ago, is firmly established, but is always
looking to improve. The Atlantic Coast Golf Tour is switching gears midway
through its first season. The USSSA, 35 years old and well known for softball in
this area, is relatively new to golf. Aligning itself with the two tours gives
it an immediate presence in North Carolina, the third state that has organized
for golf.
The USSSA will
have state and national rankings for its competitors and provide a venue for
national and world tournaments.
“It’s a new
program for USSSA,” said Danny McNeill of Greensboro, the national director for
the golf programs. “By December, we hope to have seven to 10 states on board.”
The USSSA is
aligned with Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando, Fla., and will
host competitions there.
Mark Hopkins,
director of the fledgling Atlantic Coast Golf Tour, was disappointed with the
size of his fields for both professionals and amateurs during his schedule which
launched in April.
“It never did
flourish,” he said, noting that competition from other mini-tours hurt his
chances for pros and weekday dates were unfeasible for most amateurs. “I had a
lot of people say, ‘if you have it on weekends, we’d love to play.’”
Hopkins talked
with Wendell Welch, director of the Triad Golf Today Junior Tour, and plans have
been worked out to host the Atlantic Coast Tour events alongside the junior tour
tourneys.
“Our association
with USSSA and the opportunity for members of our junior tour to play in a
national tournament at Disney will be something special for the kids. Really,
what kid doesn’t want to go to Disney. Also, USSSA will put our kids in their
national rankings,” said Jay Allred, publisher of Triad Golf Today. “I think the
scheduling of events between the junior tour and the Atlantic Coast Tour will
also provide more expertise and backups for both tours along with more rounds at
the courses they are playing.”
Parents of
players in junior events will be able to play at the same venues. The weekend
dates will also open opportunities for amateurs of all handicaps to have more
weekend choices and for professionals who play in mid-week events a chance to
tee it up for one- or two-day tourneys on the weekends.
“We’ll still be
having our pro division, but this will open it up to more amateurs,” Hopkins
said. “My tour will be the only tour sanctioned by the USSSA in North Carolina.”
“One of the
perks is that players can establish a USGA handicap through us and also get
USSSA membership and state and national rankings,” he added.
Taylor Made golf
equipment will be given away to winners of each of seven flights of pre-flighted
competition.
The flights are:
championship 0-4.9, first 5-9.9, second 10-12.9, third 13-15.9, fourth 16-18.9,
fifth 19-23.9 and sixth 24-up.
Twenty-five
percent of the players in each flight will win prizes. Entry fees will depend on
the course and whether or not it’s a one- or two-day tournament. There is also a
one-time membership fee of $50.
The Atlantic
Coast Tour has one remaining weekday event in August (Aug. 5-7 at The Neuse in
Raleigh) before switching to weekend play, starting Aug. 16 at Pine Tree Golf
Club in Kernersville.
After that, all
events will follow the schedule of the junior tour, beginning Aug. 30-31 at
Greensboro National. (The complete schedule is on page 24).
Welch also was
excited about the possibilities the USSSA will give the Junior Tour.
“I think it will
be awesome, especially for next year when they move the national tournaments to
June and July.”
|
