MERIDIAN —     Spending the day out on the golf course is already a winning recipe after a grueling week at work but throw in the knowledge the money raised during a round will go to helping find the cure for cancer, well, it just doesn't get much better than that.

    The Amateur Golf Tour (AGT) has announced that during the week of Sept. 11-19, the tour will host 37 events throughout the country in conjunction with Stand Up to Cancer's (SU2C) National Television Event airing on Sept. 10. More than 2,000 players will participate in local golf tournaments and raffles to raise money and awareness for cancer research in what promises to be the largest charity drive in amateur golf's history.

    Locally, that means golfers can contribute to this fund raising effort in addition to playing in  the fastest growing tour in the nation.

    Saturday, Sept. 11, the AGT will make a visit to Ponta Creek Golf Course on board Naval Air Station Meridian. Steve Packard, who is the AGT Tour Director for Mississippi, said the AGT is raffling a Hilton Head Vacation worth $3,000. He said tickets can be purchased at www.amateurgolftour.net for just $20. 

    "I just bought $200 worth and the goal for each tour is $1,000 or more to reach the ultimate goal of $50,000," said Packard. "If you win and don't want the vacation, I will buy it from you for $200, kind of like winning a nice skin!" 

    The first deadline is today and if the tour raises enough money,



Packard said they will be recognized on national TV. Packard said this weekend's tournament will have some other nice raffles to continue raising money for this great cause.

    "I am donating a Scotty Cameron Fastback 34" RH putter to be raffled off at Ponta Creek," Packard said. "This is the same model putter used by Rory McIlroy when he won the Dubai Desert Classic last year and is one of Scotty's finest creations." 

    Packard said tickets will be $5 each and all proceeds will go towards SU2C.

    The AGT has more than 3,000 members competing annually in 600 tournaments across 30 states. AGT National Tour Director, Dennis McCormac, said after losing a fellow director to cancer in 2009 and reflecting on the effect that cancer has had on tour members' and directors' lives, the AGT dedicated the 2010 season to winning the fight against cancer.

    "As a group, the AGT has significant power to make a difference," said McCormac. "We are all acutely aware that cancer has no boundaries or prejudices and we would be hard-pressed to find a person on the Tour or in the world of golf that has not been touched in some way by this terrible disease."

    The AGT is the largest amateur tour in the country. In its 16th season, the AGT is for amateurs of all ages and abilities. Members are placed in one of five flights based on handicaps. Tournament format is gross stroke play, with USGA rules in effect. The AGT allows everyday golfers to go 'on tour' like the pros and compete against players of their own skill level.

     For the Ponta Creek tour stop, Packard said anyone can play as a guest. The entry fee for  the Ponta Creek event this weekend is $65 for a member, $75 for a guest, $10 of which will go towards joining the tour if the player so wishes. To join the tour for a year the fee is $50 and includes a nice golf shirt and hat. This membership fee will also allow the player to participate in the upcoming two-day tournament at TPC Louisiana and the National Tournament in Hilton Head, S.C., which is the three-day event to crown a National Champion.

    "We have members on every tour that are currently fighting the disease and now we have learned that cancer has struck another of our directors," said McCormac. "It is time we make a stand to give others the chance to swing another day."

    Packard urges all interested golfers to contact him as soon as possible to ensure a slot in the event. He said there are only so many slots still left open and the sooner you get your name in the hat, the sooner he can flight you and give you your tee times. Packard said you can pay with  either a credit or debit card.