Putt-Putt tourney likes county spot
Spectators are welcome to watch
Columbia County's handful of public and private golf courses will take a back seat this week to their miniature counterpart.
Putt-Putt Golf and Games in Martinez will welcome 200-300 professional and amateur putters for the 2006 Professional Putters Association's Week of Nationals beginning Monday.
"Augusta being the golf capital of the world, the Putt-Putt world is partial to this course and thinks that this is the premier course to play," Martinez Putt-Putt owner Mark Ross said.
The Professional Putters Association holds a national championship tournament each year and came to Martinez in 2002. Ross said, the 2006 tournament has the potential to bring Columbia County residents quite a show.
"In the Augusta area, there's a lot of people that don't realize we have the quality putting facility that we have," Ross said. "These will be the best putters in the world."
Ross said six tournaments will be played through the week, starting Monday with the Seniors National Championship and ending with the biggest tournament of all: the PPA National Championship, scheduled for Thursday and Friday.
Ross said spectators are welcomed to attend all the tournaments throughout the week, free of charge.
"Both courses will be used, but all the putting will be done by 4 o'clock in the afternoon," Ross said. "We encourage people to come out between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for spectators and then (the courses are) open to the public to play from 4 o'clock on."
Ross said the two 18-hole courses will see some of the best putting in the world and a chance at history this week. The Professional Putters Association Week of Nationals includes a twist - the 2006 Pepsi Challenge. The contest will award $1,000 to anyone who shoots a perfect score of 18 in one round of play.
A score of 18 (a hole-in-one on every hole) hasn't been shot at any of the 74 Putt-Putt locations in the U.S. in tournament play since 1979. Ross said it could happen this week.
"I feel that there's a real good chance that a perfect score could be shot on the red course. It's set up to be one of the easiest in the country," he said.
The Martinez Putt-Putt's red course saw a round of 19 in 1998 from Cincinnati, Ohio's, Kevin Lacey. The defending PPA National Doubles Champion (along with teammate Greg Ward) will be one of the many competitors in town this week vying for a new course record.
"My goal is to win the tournament," Lacey said. "Shooting an 18 would be a nice bonus."
The Martinez Putt-Putt will be opened for public play from 4 p.m. to midnight each night. Tournament play will begin on Monday with the Seniors National Championship starting at 9 a.m.
The 2006 Professional Putters Association Week of Nationals Schedule
Seniors National Championship
When: Monday, 9 a.m.
Who: PPA members 50 years and older
Prize Money: TBD
Defending PPA Champ: Bill Baus, Cleveland Heights, Ohio
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National Doubles Championship
When: Monday, after Seniors National Championship
Who: PPA and APA (Amateur Putters Association) members
Prize Money: TBD
Defending PPA Champs: Kevin Lacey, Cincinnati, Ohio and Greg Ward, Loganville, Ga.
Defending APA Champs: Steve Helton, Spartanburg, S.C. and Ricky Schults, Spartanburg, S.C.
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ProPutters.com Classic
When: Tuesday, 8 a.m.
Who: PPA members
Prize Money: $5,000
Defending PPA Champ: Tim Greenert, Louisville, Ky.
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AmPutters.com Classic
When: Tuesday, 8 a.m.
Who: APA members
Prize Money: $400 expense reimbursement
Defending APA Champ: Jeff Carr, Orangeburg, S.C.
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World Match Play Championship
When: Wednesday, 8 a.m.
Who: PPA members who qualified
Prize Money: $15,000
Defending PPA Champ: Jay Klapper, Lawrenceville, Ga.
Defending APA Champ: Anthony Russell, Louisville, Ky.
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APA National Championship
When: Thursday and Friday, 9 a.m.
Who: APA members
Prize Money: $800 expense reimbursement
Defending APA Champ: Walt Kizzie Pittsburgh, Penn.
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PPA National Championship
When: Thursday and Friday, 9 a.m.
Who: PPA members
Prize Money: $25,000
Defending PPA Champ: Jay Klapper, Lawrenceville, Ga.
SOURCE: proputters.com