LAURINBURG — Scotch Meadows Country Club and Deercroft Golf Club will play host to the Exteriors “R” Us 2017 Area Championship of Scotland County.
This is the 32nd year of the storied tournament will feature a new format. The championship will be a 36-hole stroke play format with players being flighted after 18 holes, if the division is large enough.
“We started the tournament in 1985, when I started working here,” said Scotch Meadows Pro Chip Wells. “We used all three clubs early on — Deercroft, Scotch Meadows and Cypress Creek, which was known as The Lodge when we first started — but people now don’t have time or the ability to take three days off work to play golf so we’ve shortened it to just Saturday and Sunday.”
Day one of the championship will be held at Scotch Meadows on July 29 and the second day of play will take place at Deercroft on July 30. Tee times for each day will be 8 a.m., so golfers can try to beat the heat.
Players will be divided into four divisions — open, senior, super senior and ladies. The open division is for all golfers that register, the senior division is for golfers age 50 and older, the super senior division is for golfers age 70 and older and the ladies division is open to women of all ages.
“We’re trying to get everyone involved it’s a community and area tournament,” said Wells. “We want the people in Scotland and the surrounding counties to come play golf here. We’ve had some really good champions win the event, Frank Adams III and William Carter have both won it numerous times through out the years. Some of our champions even go on to become pros, but this tournament is not just for exceptional players, it’s for everyone.”
The length of play varies depending on the division golfers sign up for, because of the different tees. The Open division will play approximately 6,400 yards between the two courses while the Senior division will play 5,800 yards; the Super Senior will play 5,200 and the Ladies division will play 4,800 yards.
After the first day of play, Wells said golfers will be grouped into different flights based on their first-round scores. Flighting the golfers allows of similar skill level to play together, which according to Wells makes the tournament more fun and competitive.
The four divisions will each crown a separate champion — so there will be four champions for this year’s tournament. Gift certificates and trophies will be paid out in each division.
“We flight everyone after what they shoot after one round of golf. People will be grouped with similar scores, competition within each flight. This is not just for the exceptional player, it could be just as much fun and competitive for someone that has an 18 handicap. It’s open to everyone, not just good players.
There are no residency requirements and the championship is open to all amateurs, male or female. The entry fee is $95 and includes green fees, cart fees, prizes and lunch on Sunday.
The entry fee also grants players one practice round at Deercroft and Scotch Meadows between July 22 and July 28. Golfers should note that a cart fee of $20 will still apply for the practice rounds and tee times are needed. Golfers should also note that practice rounds will only be permitted once the entry fee has been received. Refunds will not be given if a practice round has already been played.
Optional skins games will take place each day with the divisions, the cost for those is $5 per day.
The tournament will follow the 2017 U.S.G.A. rules of golf, along with each club’s local rules.
Checks can be made payable to Scotch Meadows/Exteriors R Us along with entry forms which can be completed and returned to Scotch Meadows Country Club or mailed to Scotch Meadows Country Club, 8000 Tartan Road, Laurinburg, NC 28352 Attn: Chip Wells.
All entry forms must be received by Wednesday, July 26. Entry forms can be found on the tournament’s Facebook page, Exteriors “R” Us Area Championship of Scotland County.
For more information call Scotch Meadows Country Club at 910-276-0169 or Deercroft Golf Club at 910-369-3107.
Amber Hatten can be reached at 910-506-3170.
