PLYMOUTH – A tradition will be revived once again this year as the Pretty Lake Golf Club will raise money for two local golf scholarships with the Payne Stewart Memorial Par 3 Tournament July 8.
“We used to do it as a fundraiser for the Country Club, but then nine years ago it just evolved into a way to give a scholarship to a local golfer,” said Paul Martindale, organizer of the tournament. “We started raising more money and we decided to have a scholarship for a high school boy and girl golfer. We’re hoping we can get to the point where we’re able to raise it from a $500 to a $1,000 scholarship.”
The tournament is named after professional golfer Payne Stewart who came to the Plymouth club nearly 20 years ago and still holds the course record.
“He played with Dave Hampton when they were both golfers at SMU (Southern Methodist University) and they used to come and play the course together in the summer,” said Martindale. “That particular summer he came up and they played with Earl Richter and the pro at that time Jack Sudyk. The tees weren’t long enough so they were playing back as far as they could on every hole, there was no tee box at all on any of the holes and he still set the course record.”
Stewart was a favorite on the PGA tour known for his flamboyant attire of ivy caps and patterned pants, knickerbockers, a throwback to the once-commonplace golf “uniform.” Stewart was also admired for his outstanding swing. On October 25, 1999 Stewart was killed in a plane crash. At the time of his death he had won $12,673,193 in career earnings. He won over $2 million during the 1999 season, and finished seventh on the year’s money list.
“In honor of his course record we change all the tee boxes on the course and make all the holes par threes,” said Martindale. “The idea is just to have fun. We have hole-in-one prizes at every hole and other prizes for closest to the pin and those kind of things.”
Two foursomes will play together on each hole and can be any combination the players desire – couples, all men, all women – any combination of four players.
“When teams sign up it’s great if they get eight people together to do it,” said Martindale. “That way you can all play together you know you’ll have a good time and really that’s what this is about.”
The tournament will kick off with a shotgun start at 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 8, with all the proceeds going to fund the two golf scholarships.
“We’ve given them to Plymouth kids the past few years but the scholarship is open to any high school golfer in Marshall County,” said Martindale. “All a player has to do is get with their guidance counselor at their high school and apply. We have a committee that goes through all those applications and makes their decision.”
For more info email tilburypga@gmail.com or call 574-935-3705.
