Cranberry Miniature Golf Classic: Part of CTCC Community Days

New this year to is the Cranberry Miniature Golf Classic at in Cranberry. The classic has a minimum guaranteed first prize of $500, or 15 percent of the of the registration fee, whichever is the most. We expect this to be a huge event, especially because the prize money builds as more people enter the contest.

“We expect in time that we can see 1,000 people or more registering to be part of this golf classic. If we did get that many people, first prize would be over $3,000, second would be over $800 (4 percent of the registration fees) and third prize would be over $200 (1 percent of registration fee)," said Bob Gillenberger, the classic's coordinator.

The cost to enter the classic is a onetime registration fee of $20.

It works like this; you must qualify to get in the July 9 tournament. To qualify, you must play a 9-hole “match play” against an opponent. Qualification rounds will take place from 9 a.m. to noon on July 2 and from 4 to 7 p.m. on July 7 and July 8. Those who win the match play round against their opponent automatically advance to the July 9 tournament. There are no additional fees.

Match play is where you play against your opponent at each hole. Win the hole and you get a point. A tie gets you each half of a point, and if you lose the hole, your opponent gets the point.

Even if you have one bad hole, you are still very much in the game. Whoever has the most points after nine holes gets a bid to play in the July 9 match and a chance to compete for the top prize.

Losers can register again for another qualification round if they are still interested in competing. Another $20 entrance fee will be required.

The July 9 tournament will be played during Community Days for the “advancement round.” Golfers will be set up in a shotgun format, meaning that players will be stationed to begin on every hole. A whistle will mark the start of play. The advancement round will be normal stroke play, which counts every stroke to play through  the nine holes. Golfers will play against eveyone on the field. The 32 golfers with the lowest scores will be selected to play in the final "Magic 32" tournament.

The final players then will golf in a head-to-head 18-hole “match play” format that will reduce the field to 16 players, then to eight, then to four, until there are only two players left.

The final match will produce the winner of the first Cranberry Classic and the recipient of the $500 payout.

“I personally do not know of a tournament like this out there that has such a huge prize for the winner,”  said Chris Camp, owner of Fun Fore All, and the person who made this tournament a reality.

We do expect this to be a popular tournament once word of mouth starts to spread. Best of all is that the entire tournament benefits the new community foundation, the Cranberry Legacy
Foundation. 

We plan to set up a “Fun Fore All Legacy Endowment” to help support future Community Projects of the Year (like the community sign and the new scouting Monument).  Eighty percent of the registration fees will go to this endowment.

Players can use their own putters and golf balls and we will accept everyone from kids to senior citizens in the tournament. More details can be found on www.CTCChest.org. The beauty of this tournament is anyone can win it. It is a combination of skill and luck.  

Who will be the first winner of this tournament?  It could be you!