Registration is under way for the eighth annual Arnie's Army "The Battle of Bella Vista" Prostate Cancer Golf Outing.
The four-man scramble will begin with a shotgun start at 8 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 13, at the Kingsdale Golf Complex, said Jerry Leonard, who is co-chairing the tournament with Roy Baker. Coffee and donuts will be served prior to the event, and a barbecue lunch will be provided after play at the Riordan Pavilion.
The tournament is limited to 72 four-man teams, which will be flighted by age, Leonard said. Prizes will be awarded for closest to the pin, longest drive and pro drive. Arnie's Army is sponsoring a hole-in-one prize as well.
Entry fee is $50, which does not cover green fees or a rental cart. The entry fee is tax deductible, said Leonard, who is a prostate cancer survivor. Green fees are $15 for value card holders, $19 for those with a Property Owners Association photo ID card and $23 for members without a photo ID and guests. Cart rental is $15 a person.
Tournament applications are available at all the golf pro shops in Bella Vista. Registration deadline is Sept. 8.
There also will be a raffle for golf equipment as well as a drawing for a five-day, four-night golf outing for two people to Bay Hill Club and Lodge in Orlando, Fla. The club is the home course of Arnold Palmer, the namesake for the golf tournament. The outing also includes airfare.
Leonard and Baker, who have been co-chairmen since the tournament's beginnings, are being assisted by four other men and their spouses from Highlands Church as well as other church members. The women at the church also put on the Rally for the Cure Golf Tournament in April.
Additional assistance with the Arnie's Army tournament comes from the Arkansas Prostate Cancer Foundation, Mercy Hospital, which provides a motor home for prostate testing, and Dr. Robert Zimmerman, who is with Mercy and has helped with the screening for seven years.
The Arkansas Prostate Cancer Foundation provides screening and education across the state, Leonard said.
The Mercy motor home will be in the parking lot at Allen's Foods in Sugar Creek Center from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Sept. 15, administering prostate tests. It also will be at Sam's Club, 3500 S.E. Club Blvd. in Bentonville, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 16.
"We're happy to have them this year," Leonard said of Sam's Club participating for the first time this year.
More than 700 men have been tested in the past seven years, he said. Of those, 10 to 20 men every year needed further testing.
"I think it's making a difference to those guys every year," he said.
Proceeds from the tournament go to the National Prostate Cancer Foundation for research and the Arkansas Prostate Cancer Foundation, Leonard said.
Those not wishing to play golf can make a tax-deductible contribution to Arnie's Army Foundation by mailing a tournament application along with a check to Arnie's Army Golf Tournament, 4 Catherine Place, Bella Vista, AR 72715.
Leonard said they are still looking for tournament sponsors and hole sponsors.
For more information on the tournament, contact Leonard at 479-855-1755 or Baker at 479-855-2019.
Sports on 08/20/2014