GOLF briefs

Golf Fore Kids attracts
440 participants

The numbers alone were staggering when discussing the success of the seventh annual Golf Fore Kids tournament played on four courses in Mesquite Dec. 8.

The final count of players was 440 that converged on Falcon Ridge, Conestoga, The Palms and Oasis Canyons layouts. That represented a 10 percent increase over 2010 while also establishing a new record as it relates to participants in the tournament presented to raise gifts and cash during the holidays for needy youth and their families in Mesquite, Overton and Bunkerville, along with Beaver Dam and Littleton in Arizona.

Add to that the fact that gifts and cash resulted in about $90,000 and it's easy to see that the annual holiday gathering was a grand success in the city situated about 80 miles north of Las Vegas. Some 600 kids benefited from the heart-warming event.

From gift cards to toy tractors and scads of bicycles and tricycles, Golf Fore Kids was a home run that is presented annually on four of the most beautiful golf courses in the country.

The week also included nearly 100 members of the Golf Writers of America who gathered in Mesquite.

Another sudden death playoff decides annual Nevada Open

Possibly the best way to highlight a golf course is by presenting dramatic tournaments just as the CasaBlanca Golf Club has done in the past two years during the Nevada Open in Mesquite.

That point was driven home for the second consecutive year Dec. 16 when Las Vegas native Drew Scott won a two-hole playoff over Farmington, Utah, resident Daniel Summerhays to capture the Nevada Open at the CasaBlanca Golf Club.

On the first hole of the playoff on the CasaBlanca's 426-yard No. 18 layout, each golfer was on the green in two shots. Each two-putted for pars to prompt another playoff hole.

On the 396-yard No. 1 hole, Summerhays hit down the center ending about 100 yards from the flag before both used short wedges to reach the green. Summerhays was about 10 feet past the pin before his putt broke to the left. Scott, who was only inches away, sank his putt to end the tournament.

Scott won big-time, too, taking home $10,000 for his efforts for his sudden-death victory.

The showdown was classic for both golfers, who are highly respected for their talent. A veteran of the game who said he has been playing golf since he was 8 years of age, the 28-year-old Scott now plans to participate in the Nationwide Tour beginning in January. Summerhayes recently completed Q School and earned his PGA Tour card for the 2012 season.

The 10th annual appearance of the Nevada Open at the CasaBlanca certainly had its share of drama in a three-day event that drew about 190 players. It also had a fascinating ending considering that the top amateur Joseph Harrison and Scott both graduated from Green Valley High School in Henderson.

"I played in the Nevada Open when I was 16," Scott said after the tournament had been concluded. "Bob May won it that year."

Las Vegas Winter ParAm
to be held Jan. 21

The Las Vegas Golf Winter ParAm tournament will take place Jan. 21 at the Royal Links Golf Club. The scramble event is open to all amateur golfers.

The ParAm is limited to the first 144 players to sign up and is priced at $349 per golfer. The price includes two-night accommodations at the MGM Grand, one round of golf at Royal Links, a ParMate per foursome, barbecue lunch, ParMate-hosted golf clinic, drink vouchers, prizes awarded for on-course winners, limousine service to and from the tournament, post-tournament reception and VIP access to Studio 54 and Tabu on the night of Jan. 20.

ParMates are attractive and outgoing female caddies that keep golfers company during their round and help with course arrangements . They'll even repair divots, fix ball marks, clean balls, clean clubs and help with yardage, ball flight and obstacles.

Royal Links was built to honor the rich history and tradition of the game of golf. Designed by Dye International, this links-style course features holes inspired by 11 different British Open rotation courses, including the "Road Hole" and "Hell Bunker" from the old course at St. Andrews and the "Postage Stamp" from Royal Troon. Other courses in the loop include Carnoustie, Turnberry, Royal Liverpool, Prestwick, Royal Lytham, Muirfield and Royal Birkdale.

For Clark County residents who just want to play the tournament, the cost is $199 per golfer. Call 888-427-6678 for more details or to sign up.