by Claude Milot
AP residents are eagerly awaiting the return of young golf professionals to our Sound Golf Links for the 4th Annual Biggs Cadillac Buick GMC Classic to be played from June 28th to July 1st. But two changes await the golfers.
First, our golf pro, Kenny Saunders, will not be here to greet them as he has in the past. Kenny has moved on to greener pastures (see A Farewell to Kenny on page 5), and his leadership baton has been passed to Buddy Lawrence who is not only our Interim General Manager, but a long-time certified PGA professional himself.
The second change will be the absence of professional tour organizers like NGA, E-Golf, and Swing Thought. This year’s tournament will be run by Albemarle Plantation’s army of competent and committed volunteers with three years of experience under their belt.
The golfers will like this second change. In the past, tour organizers took 20% of entry fees collected to cover their expenses. This year, 100% of entry fees ($900 per contestant) will be returned as prize money to the golfers. Even better, an additional $10,000 is added to the purse from sponsorship funds raised by the fund-raising committee, which will be distributed as prize money with the first place tournament champion receiving $5,000, $3,000 for the second-place winner, and $2,000 for third.
And let’s not forget that many of our young pros can stay with a host family for the entire week, sparing them the cost of staying in a hotel—and getting home cooking in the process. The word is spreading about our exceptional hospitality and our great golf course. That’s why we’re confident of a great player turnout this year.
If you have not already volunteered to be a host or a tournament volunteer, please call Buddy or the Pro Shop, and you will be directed to the appropriate volunteer group leader. The course is in tip-top shape, our doors are open, and the volunteers are ready. All we need now is a little sunshine.