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FEATURES
A Growing Golf Tradition
Nationwide CHildren's Hospital Invitational returns for third year in UA
By Duane St. Clair
Another thread is being woven into the golf fabric of Upper Arlington.
The enduring pastime dates to the community’s formative years when three courses were in or abutted UA. Today, UA has two golf clubs with three courses and untold numbers of people who play regularly.
A staple is The Ohio State University’s Golf Club with its Scarlet and Gray courses. The Scarlet draws the most notoriety with its high-caliber amateur tournaments.
Now, heading into its third year on the course is the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Invitational, an event that is gradually becoming part of UA’s golf history with community leaders’ encouragement and a ticket sales program designed to assist area charities. This year’s tournament runs July 27-Aug. 2.
The week of golf kicks off with an array of celebrities – many of them sports figures from The Ohio State University, the Columbus Blue Jackets and the NASCAR racing circuit – and about 28 pros from the Nationwide Tour in an 18-hole pro-amateur tournament Monday afternoon, following practice play earlier in the day. A pro, a celebrity and two paying amateurs play in each group.
The days leading up to tournament play on Thursday include several other pro-am events in addition to practice rounds. The pro-am events are designed to help raised money for the tournament and charity, says John Aman, president of Champions of the Community Inc. Wednesday features an all-day pro-am event for sponsors and players.
“The players love it because they get to interact with the amateurs,” who normally ride golf carts in such events, Aman says. Play is faster, too, with fewer players.
The actual tournament play, which begins on Thursday, is a treat for players and spectators, as well.
“The tournament’s a real nice experience for all. The players are great to be around,” says Kip Eriksen, executive director of the tournament and a UA native.
The tournament setting is less restrictive for spectators than at PGA Tour outings. Tournament play begins with 144 pros, most of whom aspire to move up to the PGA Tour. Aman says about two-thirds of PGA Tour players gain professional tournament experience on the Nationwide Tour.
Matthew Shad, deputy city manager for community development, sees the tournament as a plus for UA, with its nationwide television exposure and the influx of several thousand visitors (Aman says attendance could reach 15,000 daily).
Shad cites efforts to promote the tournament as a community affair. For example, Friday includes a youth clinic where kids get a chance to hit balls, not just watch pros show them how to do it.
With tickets priced at $10 daily or $25 for the week, Shad says tickets are sold largely to families. The tickets are all charity driven, and three UA organizations – the Upper Arlington and Tri-Village Rotary clubs and the UA Education Foundation – are among the 49 Columbus-area charities that keep the money they raise selling tickets.
According to Aman, ticket sales in late May had already reached $120,000, well past last year’s total of $60,000.
The membership-strapped Upper Arlington Civic Association is teaming with the Tri-Village Club in the sales effort to boost its treasury, which pays for several community events. Some, such as the Independence Day Parade, are what Shad envisions happening at the tournament: “A community day with residents coming out and being with friends and neighbors.”
Duane St. Clair is a contributing editor for Upper Arlington Magazine.
WHEN YOU GO:
Nationwide Children’s Hospital Invitational
WHEN: July 27-Aug. 2
WHERE: The Ohio State University Golf Club – Scarlet Course
PURSE: $775,000
PARTICIPANTS: 144 invitees from the Nationwide Tour and amateur and collegiate ranks
PRICES: $10 daily, $25 all days
PARKING: prohibited on streets surrounding the course, free with shuttle from the OSU-Ackerman Road parking lot
EXTRAS: Junior golf clinic, 5 p.m. Friday, with pros and instructors; free Jeni’s Ice Cream, noon-5 p.m. Saturday; free pancake breakfast, 9 a.m. to noon Sunday
FOR MORE INFO: Visit www.nchigolf.com
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