Athletes have been preparing since before the State Summer Games, and now that it’s July it’s time for our summer sports season to tee off! Our Summer season includes our fewest sports of the four seasons with only golf and softball contested, but with the popularity of softball especially, more than 1,000 athletes are expected to be competing this summer statewide. Softball teams are forming now across the state and golf clinics are being organized in Lexington, Louisville, Murray and Northern Kentucky. Golfers do not have to participate in weekly clinics in order to compete.

The Special Olympics Kentucky softball leagues start July 11 and 12 in Louisville and Georgetown, respectively. Teams outside those areas often play scrimmages or tournaments in their own regions. There are also invitational tournaments held by local programs throughout the summer. The season leads up to three regional tournaments from which teams qualify for the State Softball Tournament which will be held in September.

2023 Softball Schedule
July 11 – Lyndon (Louisville) Softball League Opens
July 12 – Georgetown Softball League Opens
Aug. 5 – Region 1 Softball Tournament; Lone Oak Park, Paducah
Aug. 11-12 – Region 2 Softball Tournament; Marshall Park, Georgetown
Aug. 19 – Region 3 Softball Tournament; Lyndon Recreation Complex, Louisville
Sept. 8-10 – State Softball Tournament

Golfers start their season with clinics and practices in June that lead to a three-tournament qualifying season. Any golfer or Unified pair who competes in one of the qualifying tournaments qualifies to compete in the 2023 State Golf Tournament in August. The qualifying tournament schedule will return to Central Kentucky for the first time in many years with a July 29 date at Lakeside Golf Course in Lexington.

2023 Golf Schedule
July 16 – Northern Kentucky Regional Golf Tournament; Kenton County Golf Course, Independence
July 22 –Western Kentucky Regional Golf Tournament; Miller Memorial Golf Course, Murray
July 29 – Lexington Regional Golf Tournament; Lakeside Golf Course, Lexington
Aug. 26 – State Golf Tournament; Quail Chase Golf Course, Louisville

For more information about our softball and golf programs, contact Holly Vincent at [email protected] or 502-695-8222.

For information about volunteering at any event, contact Michaele Roy at 502-695-8222 or [email protected].