FCA offering a skills contest that’s a little Big Break, a little Drive, Chip and Putt to enhance this year’s county tournament
By Al Muskewitz
The best high school golf teams in Calhoun County and champion golfers of the year will be crowned the first weekend in April, but the sharpest individuals will be identified in a friendly competition the weekend before.
In conjunction with its traditional First Tee Dinner, the local Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapter has gotten the green light to stage a skills competition that’s a little Big Break and a little Drive, Chip and Putt to recognize the nerviest players in a variety of the game’s disciplines.
While organizers are still pouring over final details like a six-foot putt for the win, the March 27 event at Cider Ridge Golf Club will challenge the players on the county’s high school teams in a variety of skills.
The FCA Skills Challenge and First Tee Dinner will be at Cider Ridge Golf Club. The formal county tournament is April 1-2 at Pine Hill Country Club.
“Our heartbeat on this is to bless and encourage these high school athletes any way that we can and we thought this would be a really fun event for us to host for them,” said Ryan Limbaugh, the director of the Cheaha Valley FCA. “I just remember being a high school athlete and if there was anything offered that was extra that enhanced an event it made it special.
“Golfers in particular spend an awful lot of time on their games. I remember the Big Break (on Golf Channel) and watching them doing things I thought high school kids would really enjoy that. You can’t tell me a high school golfer who hits the ball a long way doesn’t want to see how he or she competes against the rest of the field, and they’ll get an opportunity to do that.”
The competition is expected to take place over the first four holes on the golf course and practice area. The contests will test putting, chipping/short game, bunker play, mid-iron play, long drives and closest-to-the-pin.
Teams likely will be encouraged to select individual players for specific stations to encourage overall participation.
“I like the idea of it,” Weaver golf coach Justin Brown said. “When we came up for hosting the County Tournament that was something I brought up, do something different for County. I think it adds to the excitement and maybe it can help us get more kids involved (in golf), even if it’s not at the high school level.” [*** read more]
