"Tee it High...and Let it Fly," was a typical Chuck Gates saying about golf.
And that's what organizers are saying about the 13th annual Chuck Gates Memorial golf tournament set for Sunday, June 6 at Sun Valley Golf Course. Last year the tournament raised $5,000 for local junior golf and it was raised $91,000 in its 12 years.
A portion of proceeds is donated to junior golf activities at Ketchum's Atkinson Park.
Chuck Gates Youth Golf Endowment board president Roger Roland said, "Our donation helps the Atkinson Park program to supplement their tight budget so they may purchase equipment, tee times, field trips and more."
Sunday's schedule begins with a Joe Malay demonstration at 9 a.m. and the first annual Chuck Gates Junior Putting Contest at 10 a.m. Entry is free for the contest and it is open to all boys and girls. Prizes to be awarded include a new set of junior golf clubs.
The buffet and registration is from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., range balls and warm-up is at noon and the shotgun start is at 1:30 p.m. Immediately after play, an awards ceremony with no-host bar will be held on the deck.
Local junior golfers are selling raffle tickets ($5, or 5 for $20) for a chance to win a new set of irons.
This year's tourney is dedicated to retired Sun Valley Director of Golf Doyle Corbett. In past years the tournament has been dedicated to Bill Butterfield, Bob Doyle and Mary Lou Simpson.
The tournament is named for Chuck "C" Gates, who died Dec. 6, 1997 at the age of 51. A passionate golfer, Gates started Ketchum's first radio station, KRMR, and was a co-founder of the Idaho Mountain Express.
And the seventh annual Chuck Gates Junior Golf Tournament will be Sunday, June 27 at Bigwood Golf Course.
