We are rounding the back stretch on the golf season and some of the best golf days are ahead of us.
We always encourage golfers to book a starting time but many times we get ahead of schedule and can usually work a group or two in during the course of the day. Souris Valley Golf Course is in very good shape and now is a great time to get out and play. Junior lessons will start July 11 and there is still time to sign up. Just call the golf shop at 857-4189 for more information.
Planet Pizza has been nice enough to donate a small pizza for low round of the week at the Jack Hoeven Wee Links. There is no charge to enter. You just have to play with one more person to veryify the round. Each low round (boy and girl) through the rest of the summer will win a seven-inch dine-in pizza at Planet Pizza. We will track the low rounds in the Wee Links Pro Shop. You are not eligible to win two weeks in a row. When you sign in at the Jack Hoeven Wee Links you can check with the staff if you have any more questions.
On July 15 Jeremy Zarr and I are going to try a fun challenge for the youth. We are going to try a Beat the Pro's Day. If it is a success we will try and do it every Tuesday. Jeremy and I will team up in a two-person team and take on all challengers to play 18 holes against our score. We all will play our own ball and see if any teams can beat us. So this is a challenge to all of you junior golfers. Find a partner or we will try and find one for you. This is for boys and girls. The only charge will be the cost of a green fee ($7.70 unless you have a season ticket). We will register that morning at 10 a.m. and start teeing off about 10:30 a.m. There will be some prizes and lunch included.
Also, on Tuesday evening on the Souris Valley driving range kids will get to hit a free medium bucket if they come along with an adult that buys a large bucket. We are trying to encourage adults to bring a youngster out to the golf course. If you need clubs we have them available. We also have two practice putting greens and if you do not have a putter we have some in the golf shop that you can use. Our 19th Hole will also have a special for kids with adults that night also.
The Minot Daily News Ladies City Championship is just around the corner. This is a wonderful event for the area gals. You must have an NDGA handicap established at Souris Valley, Minot Country Club, Wildwood Golf Course, or the Minot Air Force Base. We have sign up sheets at these courses so please sign up if you want to play. The date is July 10 with a 9 a.m. start.
The Men's City Championship will be hosted at Souris Valley and the MCC on July 26-27. Same rules apply to this tourney. You must have an established handicap at one of the same courses as the gals.
Tip of the week - When you go to the putting practice green, use three balls and practice your distance control. Stick a few tees in the green at different distances and see how close you can get all of the balls to the tees. A putt that is right on line that is 4-5 feet short or long really does not help much. Good distance and direction are the keys to good putting.
Rule of the Week - 1-3/2. In a match, the two players agree in advance to concede all putts within a specified length. Is this contrary to Rule 1-3?
A. Yes, the players agreed to exclude the operation of Rule 1-1 and should be disqualified. The Rule of Golf can be found at (www.USGA.org).
Quote of the week - " A little key opens a box in which lies a bunch of keys. The great majority of golfers appear to be looking for that little key to the secrets of a first class game." - From Pictorial Golf by HB Martin 1928 London.
Good golfing and keep it in the fairway.
(Steve Kottsick is the golf professional at Souris Valley Golf Course. Kottsick writes a weekly column during the golf season. He can be reached by e-mail at sports@minotdailynews.com)