Golfers go for green

PLAINS – Teams of four chased their shots around the golf course and competed against one another for a benefit tournament in Plains.

The Wild Horse Plains Golf Course was filled with golfers, both serious competitors and those seeking friendly competition last weekend.

After hosting the Plains High School golf team tournament and dinner on Aug. 2, and the Hot Springs VFW tournament on Aug. 16, the Going 4 Green tournament was held on Saturday, Aug. 23.

Hosted by the Plains Golf Association, the benefit tournament went towards supporting the public golf course and keeping up the facilities at the public golf course.

According to Tonya Revier, who helped organize this year’s golf benefit, the Going 4 Green tournament is in its third year of existence at the local course.

Money raised at the previous two tournaments went towards supporting the golf course and this year’s fund will do the same, but with an added emphasis on updating portions of the golf course.

“This year the goal is to put all the money raised towards renovating the golf course’s facilities,” Revier said.

Revier said the course’s bathroom and particularly the shower facility would be updated with the money raised.

According to Revier, the short-term goal of these renovations was to increase interest in holding functions at the golf facility.

“We hope to hold more events at the course,” Revier said.

In the future the renovations are also a step towards potentially creating a sight for an RV park near the course.

The tournament consisted of teams of four, some made up of men, some of women but most of which were coed, playing in the best balls scramble format characteristic of benefit tournament play.

The competition kicked off around 10 a.m. and the last golf teams out on the course made their way to the clubhouse a little after 4 p.m.

Though the weather looked like it would be uncooperative over the first few holes of the competition, the rain held off and temperatures were mild but not chilly, creating comfortable golfing conditions for the late summer event.

According to Revier, this year’s tournament consisted of 12 teams.

Last year the Going 4 Green event attracted 18 teams and Revier believes the drop was due to the multitude of tournaments in the area recently.

She was still pleased with the turnout and the participants seemed to enjoy themselves as well as they made their way through the competition.

After their 18 holes of play a silent auction was held and the competitors broke for sandwiches after their day on the links.

During the day each hole of the tournament offered competition and prizes for competitors.

Everything from ball markers, golf tees, golf balls, prize bags, lotto tickets and a koozie collection were up for grabs.

Some of the competitions included long drive, long putt and closest to the pin challenges.  

A number of local businesses contributed to the event and the auction, ensuring another successful Going 4 Green tournament.