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War Memorial HasStrange A ttractionFor State GolfersLITTLE RGCK (AP) - There is a certain mystique attached to playing golf at St Andrews, Augusta, Merion and the like.Strangely enough, Arkansas golfers are attracted to a par 65 course that doubles as a parking lot for football gamesThe course is War Memorial Park and players come out of the woodwork each year to participate in the Fourth of July tournament. Last year, for example, 96 golfers were in the championship flight.Probably less than half had a realistic chance to win. But, there is something tantaiyzing about a golf course that only measures 4.460 yards.There are eight par threes, none of them long. There are nine par fours and the good players can reach all but one of them with no more than a driver and a wedge. In fact, they don’t even pull the driver out of the bag until No 7The only par five is a short oneWhat all this means is that a short hitter can compete. And. a player who can scrape in a couple of putts and get a couple of good bounces can shoot closeto par•‘There are a lot of people in the championship flight who should be in the third flight or fourth flight,” said Wayne Ruttedge, pro at War Memorial. “But, they know they are going to get at least two rounds of golf and have a chance to play with some good players.”They also dream about putting together a couple of good rounds and beating some of the best players in the state. Often, an unknown finishes ahead of a college player.A top-notch field is assured because, for the third year in a row', the tournament is a designated event. The top finishers in a designated event earn points toward Player of the Year honors.“The championship flight is open to everybody, country club golfers or money players,whatever,” Rutledge said.“That means that anybody who is capable of playing quality golf, even a sixseven-oreight ha ndicapper, can play in the chamhionship flight and compete. In almost all other tournaments, you have to qualify for the championship“There are four or five players who are strictly country clubbers and will not play this course,” he said. “All the other guys who play in the tournament, like it. It’s short, but it's a challenge. You can go out and shoot 60 or go out and shoot 80 ”Louis Lee of Heber Springs, who has turned pro, won the tournament the past two years Previous winners include Ed Hams of North Little Rock and Louis’ brother, Stan, a threetime winner and also a pro.The list of non-winners is just as impressive — Bruce Jenkins of Arkansas Doug Ward of Texas AM, Jim Balch, the state match play championThe field is cut in half after 36 holes For the past few years every player who made the cut receivwl at least a dozen golfballsThat kind of payoff is a plus and is extended to the six flights of match play.“A lot of pros think if they can’t put $1,000 clear in their pocket, they don’t want a tournament/’ Rutledge said “We give 25 percent of the green fees to the city and put the rest back in prizes ”
Newspaper Details
Fayetteville Northwest Arkansas Times
Fayetteville, Arkansas, US
Wed, Jun 18, 1980
Page 18
Full Page
Clipped by
Arkansas S.
AR, USA 24 Jun 2019
Other Publications Near Fayetteville, Arkansas
Fayetteville Democrat
Fayetteville Daily
Fayetteville Northwest Arkansas Times
Northwest Arkansas Times
Fayetteville Daily Democrat
