Tournament Returns to Louisville August 24

More than 125 athletes and more than 25 Unified partners are expected to take part when the State Golf Tournament returns to Louisville on Saturday, August 24. This will be the sixth year that the tournament has been hosted by Quail Chase Golf Club, which many may recognize as the annual host of the Texas Roadhouse Armadillo Classic outing that benefits Special Olympics Kentucky. 

The event provides opportunities for golfers of all skill levels. Beginner golfers and golfers not yet ready for a full round will participate in the Skills Competition, which measures their ability to complete six different common golf shots, with points awarded for accuracy on all shots and for distance on wood and iron shots. Most of the State Tournament’s participants take part in the 9-hole Unified alternate shot competition. The format pairs a Special Olympics golfer with a partner who does not have a disability, and they take turns playing the ball from where their partner last hit it. Our most advanced golfers will compete in the 9-hole stroke play event, where Special Olympics golfers will play their own ball throughout.

The event gets underway at noon with the beginning of individual stroke play competition and the first of two skills competition sessions. The Unified alternate shot event and the second skills competition session will start at 3:30. Awards will be presented following each session.

Golfers will qualify by competing in at least one of three regional tournaments in July, one in Murray, one in Independence and one in Lexington.

For more information concerning the State Golf Tournament or the Special Olympics Kentucky golf program, contact Kathy Marshall at 502-695-8222 or via e-mail at [email protected].