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Inaugural Jack Masters Memorial Golf Tournament set for Saturday, June 9, at the Sugar Mountain Golf Course

By Paul T. Choate

Jack Masters at the Banner Elk Parade in 2009.

June 8, 2012. On Saturday, June 9, the Village of Sugar Mountain Golf Course will host the inaugural Jack Masters Memorial Golf Tournament to benefit maintenence and improvement of Wildcat Lake. The tournament begins between 8 and 8:30 a.m. with a shotgun start.

The tournament will be played in a four person Captain’s Choice format according to Tom McAuliffe, golf director of the Village of Sugar Mountain Golf Course.

This tournament comes after Masters passed away on Feb. 29, 2012. For years prior to this tournament, the Village of Sugar Mountain Golf Course hosted the Banner Elk Elementary Arts Plus Tournament to benefit the arts program at the Banner Elk Elementary School.

“About 12 years ago Jack Masters came to Sugar Mountain asking if he could conduct a golf tournament for the Banner Elk Elementary School and their Arts Plus program,” said McAuliffe. “This ran successfully for about 10 years and one year Jack said he couldn’t have the tournament anymore. I think it was a bureaucratic decision in Raleigh.”

McAuliffe said they elected to hold the Jack Masters Memorial Golf Tournament on the second Saturday in June, just as the Banner Elk Elementary Arts Plus Tournament had been held in the past. 

“This year’s beneficiary, through the Grandfather Home for Children, will earmark proceeds to the maintenance and improvements at Wildcat Lake,” said McAuliffe. “It’s such a wonderful resource for the youth, visitors and locals alike and we just felt like Jack would approve.”

McAuliffe said Masters’ life will be honored at the tournament. A 2-feet by 3-feet photograph of “Mr. Banner Elk” will be on display. 

“It will be just like he’s here,” said McAuliffe. “And we’re trying to pick up the standard for the cause that he was always willing to do on so many occasions. So it’s up to us now to continue in the community spirit that he so regularly displayed. He was all about everybody else — he was all about Banner Elk.”

McAuliffe said that he expects a full turn-out, 72 players (four golfers at each of the 18 holes), for the shotgun start. He also added that that there are designated holes for a “1A” and “B” team if necessary, for a total of possibly as many as 80 players.

A continental breakfast will be provided and there will be a cookout after the tournament concludes. Multiple prizes will also be auctioned at the cookout, with Roy Krege serving as guest auctioneer.

Registration for the tournament is $65 and is only available Saturday morning. No pre-registration is available. 

The Village of Sugar Mountain Golf Course is located at 1054 Sugar Mountain Drive, Sugar Mountain, NC.

For more information, call 828-898-6464.