Tourney and fundraiser tees off Wrangell golf season

Muskeg Meadows drove into its first tournament of the year this weekend, with the annual Angerman's Best Ball Golf Tournament Saturday and Sunday.

Twenty-two participants took part in the team-based tournament, running through a full set of 18 holes. It was sponsored by Angerman's, Inc. which donated drawing prizes players could vie for. A portion of entry fees went toward course maintenance and operations, with the remainder going in to the prize pot.

Following Saturday's play, on Sunday, Rocky and Rodney Littleton and Marva Reid formed the winning team. The three Petersburgers held a net score of 21, playing with a team handicap of 13. In second place, Wrangell golfers Faye Kohrt, Wayne Ellis, Brian Smith and Eric Kading together scored 22. Coming just behind in third with 23 points were Doug Nelson, Rita Harms, Randy Littleton and Michael Stephens.

For individual achievements, Nelson had the straightest drive, at five feet. Brett Woodbury sent his ball closest to the pin at 15 feet, 11 inches.

The weekend also was a start-off for Muskeg Meadow's governing board. A membership meeting and elections for directors was held April 29.

The club held a fundraiser dinner afterward on Sunday at the Elks Lodge. Members and supporters of the club enjoyed to a prime rib dinner and bid on a variety of items under the hammer. Everything from oil changes, golf goodies, Alaska Airlines tickets and fishing gear to a custom-made cooler caddy with wheel locks to prevent it from sliding across the deck were auctioned off.

"We cleared $8,000," said Bill Messmer, who manages the course. Money raised during the golf course's primary fundraiser goes toward operations, particularly the start-up costs of getting everything ready after the winter.

"We've had to have people working here the past few weeks," said Messmer, mowing and clearing debris, making sure all the holes are groomed and pins in place for coming tournaments.

"We've got one [tournament] almost every weekend for the whole summer," Messmer pointed out.

This weekend Petersburg and Wrangell golfers will be squaring off in the annual Ray Pederson Memorial Ryder Cup. Starting this Saturday, the tournament will have 18 holes played each day, broken up into four different formats. Three of these will be two-person teams, playing best-ball, alternate shot and for best score. An individual format will also be played.

Points scored throughout the tournament count toward the community tally, with the highest scoring taking home the Ryder Cup this year. Wrangell will be defending the title, having won it 14.5 points to Petersburg's 8.5. Sign-up for Saturday is no later than 9:45 a.m., and the tournament starts at 10 a.m.

Golfers otherwise are free to play on through during the week or around scheduled tournaments. The course is open from 12 to 8 p.m. during the week. Baskets of balls are also available to practice with at the driving range.

For more information on the course, upcoming tournaments and contact details, check out Muskeg Meadows' site at http://wrangellalaskagolf.com.