Inaugural Wisconsin State Par-3 Championship debuts July 30 at Sand Valley

(RELEASE) - The Wisconsin State Golf Association and Sand Valley in Rome are working together this summer to identify the top par-3 player in the state of Wisconsin.

The inaugural Wisconsin State Par-3 Championship, scheduled for July 30, will be a one-of-kind championship. The event will be played on Sand Valley’s new par-3 course, The Sandbox, which features 17 par-3 holes designed by Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw and Jimmy Craig. The field of 78 players will make one circuit around the par-51 facility to determine the champion, unless a sudden-death playoff is required.

“Sand Valley is honored to be the host for this newly-created Wisconsin state championship,” said Sand Valley  General Manager Glen Murray. “Alternative golf experiences are significant drivers of growth of the game and we are proud to partner with the WSGA for this innovative championship.”

This first Wisconsin State Par-3 Championship is open to male amateurs only (maximum handicap index of 9.4), but the WSGA is already talking about expanding the tournament to more players in future years. The field for the inaugural event is full, as entries opened on June 6, and filled up quickly.

“We are extremely excited by the response to this new championship and the buzz it has created,” said WSGA Executive Director Rob Jansen. “We hope to see the event grow in the future.”

Tee times begin at 9:30 a.m. on July 30 and run until around 1 p.m., with the awards ceremony scheduled for approximately 4 p.m.

The Crenshaw set of tees, or the back tees, on the Sandbox will be utilized for the championship. The Crenshaw tees measure a total of 1,652 yards, with holes ranging from the 51-yard seventh to the 149-yard 16th. The Sandbox, which plays through a restored sand prairie, also offers several unique green complexes, including a biarritz, punchbowl, road hole, double plateau, lion’s mouth and a redan.

For more information about The Sandbox, visit www.sandvalleygolfresort.com.