Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — With more than 70 golfers in the field and an expected $7,000 in prizes, the annual Steamboat Golf Club Classic is one of the biggest tournaments of the summer in the Yampa Valley.

"It's our biggest," said Chip Shevlin of the Steamboat Golf Club. "It's just a really good time. We get golfers from all over Colorado and Wyoming."

The two-day event is Aug. 9 and 10 at the Steamboat Golf Club, located on U.S. Highway 40 west of Steamboat Springs.

Cost to enter the annual tournament is $95 for non-members and $75 for members. Once the entries have been closed, the players will be divided into six flights. All flights will be paid at gross except for the fifth flight, which will be paid at net.

In addition to the two days of competition, golfers also will have a chance to take part in a free barbecue dinner at 6 p.m., and a closest-to-the-pin contest at 6:30 p.m. Saturday. There will also be a Calcutta for Sunday's round, which begins at 7:15 p.m.

Golfers can stop by the Steamboat Golf Club to pick up entries. Deadline to enter is

4 p.m. Aug. 7 or once the field fills.

"This is still the marquee tournament of the Steamboat Golf Club," board member Greg Koehler said. "It has been running for many years and those who have won it know that it is an accomplishment. This is still a very tough and challenging course."

This year's tournament will feature a double shotgun start. High flights will tee off at 8:30 a.m. each day and the low flights will begin at 1:30 p.m.

The tournament will open on Aug. 8 with a pro-am competition.

The Steamboat Golf Club's new pro, Ernie Thiel, is hoping to get the professionals from other courses in the area to come out and play. Cost to enter the Pro-am is $200 for a team of four.

--To reach John F. Russell call 871-4209

or e-mail jrussell@steamboatpilot.com