As the weather turns warmer and the days grow longer, golf courses begin to awaken from their winter hibernation and that means a plethora of local tournaments to choose from.
I’ll start off at Rock Spring Golf Course in Alton. It’s still a little ways off, but the 62nd Gold Medal Tournament is on the docket for Aug. 1-2. This city tournament has a long, illustrious tradition and looks to be at Rock for a long time to come. Applications are available now at the golf shop and you can call Rock Spring at (618) 465-9898.
Another traditional tournament coming soon is the Godfrey Open at Rolling Hills Golf Course. The Godfrey Open is scheduled for June 20-21. It has a 1:30 p.m. shotgun start on Day 1 and will continue with early tee times on Day 2. Call Rolling Hills at (618) 466-8363 to learn more about this tourney.
Belk Park Golf Course in Wood River also will play host to upcoming tournaments.
On July 11-12 there will be their annual two-man scramble. It will have tee times and includes cash prizes. In the past it has had 60 to 70 teams and this year has added a senior division.
On Aug. 15-16 there is also a two-day tournament at Belk. Day 1 will be a best ball format, while Day 2 will be a two-man scramble with tee times.
There are also 20 to 30 charitable tournaments scheduled over the summer at Belk. To learn more, call the pro shop at (618) 251-3115.
Talking charitable events, golf tournaments are fantastic vehicles to raise money for good causes. There are plenty of charitable golf tournaments on the schedule at the six Greater Alton golf courses.
Heading back to Rolling Hills, the Evangelical United Church of Christ in Godfrey has its annual scramble to raise funds for the American Cancer Society on Saturday. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. with a shotgun at 8:30 a.m.
There will be a lunch following golf. For more information, contact Tom Brown at (618) 466-0085 or John Hamilton at (618) 466-8851.
Also at Rolling Hills is the Shipman Athletic Association Tournament on May 23 beginning at 8 a.m. A charity scramble supporting spina bifida is set for 1:30 p.m. May 30. Visit www.sbstl.org to learn more about it.
The 25th annual Beverly Farm Foundation Golf Tournament is scheduled for June 5. Registration is at 11 a.m., followed by a shotgun start at noon. Dinner and awards are at 5 p.m. More information is available by calling (618) 466-0367 ext. 649.
The Woodlands Golf Club in Alton is playing host to a 1 p.m. tournament Saturday to support the Diabetes Foundation.
There will also by the Jennifer Wynn Cancer Foundation Tournament on May 30 at The Woodlands. Call the pro shop at (618) 462-1456 to learn how to enter these tourneys and others throughout the summer.
Spencer T. Olin Golf Course in Alton will be the stage for the Alton-Godfrey Rotary Club golf scramble on June 1. Proceeds go toward a $6,000 college scholarship awarded each year to a student from Alton High, Marquette Catholic or Mississippi Valley. More information is available from Andy Bowen at (618) 466-3029 or (618) 541-6258, or Augie Wuellner at (618) 466-1553.
The 15th annual charity golf and tennis classic of OSF Saint Anthony’s Foundation is set for June 8 at Spencer T. Olin. Proceeds assist Saint Anthony’s Cancer Center of Excellence. For more information, call (618) 463-5168.
An array of other tournaments will visit Spencer T. Olin throughout the summer, call general manager Mary Campbell at (618) 465-3888 ext. 225 to learn more.
Cloverleaf Golf Course in Alton will play host to the Village of Bethalto Tournament on June 5. Call Jeff Allsman at (618) 377-8051 to learn more.
On June 28 at Cloverleaf there will be a tournament to support the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Contact Vern Bilbrey at (618) 717-6030 for information on that event.
Cloverleaf will offer other tournaments during the summer; contact the pro shop at (618) 462-3022 to find out about them.
Whether you have an outstanding handicap and want to join one of the competitive tournaments, or you just like to chase that little white ball around and do it for a good cause, here’s your chance — enter one of these great tournaments.