By By Tony Krausz / assistant sports editor
June 22, 2004
The Ponta Creek Golf Course is looking to attract golfers.
The public course located at Naval Air Station Meridian is holding a golf tournament on July 17 to draw residents to its links.
The first Meridian Area Navy League Invitational will be a two-person, 27-hole scramble. The tourney is being held in an effort to let golfers know the course is open to the public.
The scramble will cost $60 per person, which includes green and cart fees, a choice of catfish or chicken for lunch and a gift pack. The gift pack will be stocked with golf towels, balls, tees and other golfing items.
Players will complete the first nine holes before coming off the course for lunch. During the break, the tournament will be flighted and the golfers will return to the course to complete the last 18 holes.
First-place finishers in each flight will receive a $300 gift certificate, second place finishers will earn $200 and third place finishers will receive $150. Prizes will also be rewarded for holes in one on each of the par 3 holes, and the first golfer to record a hole in one on the 18th hole will win a car.
Ponta Creek will receive a chance to show off its course to the golfers playing in the tournament.
Morrison said some of the main improvements are grass on every fairway, cart signs, an improved pro shop, an improved selection of items in the pro shop and a change in the attitude of how the course is run.
Williams said he would like to draw 40 teams 80 golfers to the first tournament sponsored by the Navy League.
The Nave League plans to make the tournament an annual event at Ponta Creek.
The Navy League is looking for local businesses interested in sponsoring holes for the tourney. For more information about the tournament and how to enter call 679-2526.