Ready to tee off

Published 5:43 pm Saturday, April 5, 2014

Time is running out for those interested in playing in this year’s Selma-Dallas County Chamber of Commerce golf tournament at Valley Grande Golf Course.

The tournament, which serves as the chamber’s main fundraiser, will be held on April 23, but the final day to register is April 15. Lee Calame, the chairman of the Chamber Golf Tournament, said the tournament is a key component in helping the chamber serve the community and complete its daily tasks.

“It is the only fundraiser the chamber of commerce currently puts on,” Calame said. “The only funding the chamber of commerce receives is through direct membership investment through chamber memberships, so it plays a vital role in the day to day programs and functioning that the chamber of commerce puts on and promotes.”

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Sheryl Smedley, executive director of the Selma-Dallas Chamber of Commerce, said the tournament hopes to include 26 teams this year. Currently 16 teams have signed up, so there are still spots available for anyone interested in playing.

“It’s a great networking opportunity and the tournament is always fun,” Smedley said.

Calame said the tournament isn’t just about golf though. It also gives all of the participants and those involved a chance to get to know other people in the community.

“It is a chance to socialize and network outside of your normal working environment, so it is not only a time to play golf but a great time to come out and network with potential customers or find some business partners,” Calame said.

The tournament is a three-person scramble and will begin at 12 p.m. It costs $80 per player to register, or $240 per team.  There are closest to the pin contests on each of the five par-3 holes, a longest drive hole and special hole where competitors hit from a Pepsi cup.

“I may not be the best golfer out there, by participating in the power drive or the Pepsi cup might create an advantage for me to make up one to two strokes at a time,” Calame said.

Calame said sponsorships are still available.