Junior tour set to tee off
Megan Miron won the 2019 U19 girls division championship. PHOTO BY: Bernie Puchalski.
Fore!
The Niagara District Junior Golf Tour is set to tee off next month with as many as 10 events, likely beginning Monday, July 6.
“I’m really trying to get the schedule done this week,” tour director John White said. “I’m going forward.”
White has commitments from seven courses and is looking to round out the schedule with stops at the Fort Erie Golf Club and Brock Golf Course. The tour would tentatively wrap up Monday, Aug. 24, at Beechwood as usual.
“I’m leaning toward going to some of the shorter courses. I think the kids enjoy them anyway,” White said.
White said it has been difficult to get times at some courses.
“It kind of irks me their members can’t give up one afternoon,” he said.
All five divisions — under-19, under-17, under-15 and under-13 boys divisions, as well as an under-19 girls division — are expected to take part.
The tour ran with about 60 golfers last season and White is expecting a similar number this year.
“I’ve gotten a few requests so I’m anticipating I might get a little bit more response. I think we’ll probably be in the same boat, maybe 50 or 60 kids,” he said.
The tour will make some changes to accommodate the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We’re not going to be able to have a shotgun,” White said. “We’ll probably go to on-line scoring, and (golfers) can’t touch the flag.
“Social distancing will be the key. We do that anyway. We just don’t want big gatherings. Most of them will probably be just tee times and they’ll come 10 or 20 minutes before their event and tee off.”
The tour is open to all junior golfers that have not reached their 19th birthday by August 1 of the playing season.
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