Golf Center Des Plaines hosts skills challenge for Youth League golfers

Golf Center Des Plaines hosted a Skills Competition Challenge Wednesday, Aug. 3, for 30 young golfers in the Wednesday Challenge League.

Golfers from Golf Center Des Plaines, Mount Prospect Golf Club and Old Orchard Country Club competed individually in five events. Four of the events were held in the short game area: a two stroke closest to the pin putting challenge, a five shot pitching challenge, a five shot chipping challenge, a five shot sand challenge in the bunker, and the fifth was a three shot closest to the pin challenge off the first tee of the nine hole course. Prizes were awarded for the top five scores in each category.

First place winners included Preston Drehobl, Miles Ferstel, Jimmy Houkav and Aidan Megally, from the Golf Center Des Plaines team, Jake Dianovskv and Nick Tenuta from the Mount Prospect Golf Club team, and Robert Garmoe and Alexi Heidkamp from the Old Orchard Country Club team.

The Wednesday Challenge League plays each of the three courses in Des Plaines, Mount Prospect and Old Orchard, twice during the six-week season. The program is run by Jeff Langguth, the head golf professional at the Mount Prospect Golf Club, who has been involved with youth league play for the past five years.

“Each year about 50 percent of the players return to their teams, and it is exciting to see how they improve individually and as a team,” he said. “The point system allows for the golfers to challenge themselves as well as for the teams to compete, with players earning one point each for bettering their score each time they play.”

Forty-two players, 14 per team, compete as a team for points during the six weeks. The winning team, with the highest number of points for the 2011 season, was Golf Center Des Plaines.

Players were awarded a variety of prizes for the Skills Challenge including $10 range cards and free passes for the nine-hole course at Golf Center Des Plaines and free passes for the 18-hole course at Lake Park. On Wednesday, Aug. 10, the Des Plaines Optimist Club will sponsor their free Youth Golf Outing at Lake Park. Shotgun start is at 10 a.m., and all golfers will receive a free round of golf, prizes, and a hot dog lunch.

Golf Center Des Plaines has a lighted, Rick Jacobson designed, nine hole golf course, a three tiered, 80 bay, lighted range, with an automated tee-up system and over 300 yards of outdoor landing area, a grass tee practice area, golfTEC lessons, a pro shop and a sports bar and restaurant. On Monday, range balls are .06 each, and golfers receive an extra $5 in range balls with every $50 purchase.

Golf Center Des Plaines is located at 353 N. River Road, one block north of Golf Road in Des Plaines. For information, lessons and leagues call (847) 803-GOLF, or visit www.DPParks.org.

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