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Junior golf tourney tailors course for children

Elwood Shelton

Nate Vaccari, 17, is a veteran of the Yampa River Classic Junior Golf Tournament, having played in it for as long as he can remember. For him its more than just a warm-up for the impending high school golf season this fall.

“It’s a fun way to get some practice,” Vaccari said. “And it a good way to get young kids interested in the sport.”

The Yampa River Classic will be held Tuesday at the Yampa Valley Golf Course, and is set up for the success of the younger players.



The tournament incorporates any child that can swing a club, from six-and-under to 17-years-old.

The stroke play tournament tailors the course to each age group, making each hole specific to each age group.



For the six-and-under group there will be four holes, playing holes 10 through 12. The number 10 hole will be divided into two miniature holes, to avoid a junior swinger having to trudge through a long par four.

The 7 to 9-year-olds will also play four holes, but will play the unmodified course, teeing off from the ladies box.

The 10 to 12-year-olds and 13 to 14-year-olds will play nine holes apiece, while the 15 to 17-year-olds will play a full round of golf. All the short course holes will be played on the back nine.

“I think we’ve got the holes fairly squared away for the younger kids, we’ve made them shorter in length, but still challenging,” Assistant Golf Pro Tom Dockstader said.

Like many of its brethren tournaments, the Yampa River Classic has a draw outside the Yampa Valley, with linksters from Meeker, Grand Junction and Denver all expected to come in for the local tournament.

In the past the tournament has brought in as many as 120 player, thought only 90 have signed up for this year.

“We’ll get more by the time the tournament starts, so I figure that we’ll be close to 120 players,” Dockstader said.

The tournament cost $15 dollars to enter, and registration is at the Yampa Valley Golf Courses Pro Shop. For more information call 824-3673.


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