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Charlotte Amateur Tour Accepting Players for 12th Season

             CHARLOTTE – The Charlotte division of the Amateur Golf Tour is preparing for its 12th season of providing golfers of all abilities a tour to call their own. This year’s schedule kicks off Feb. 4 at Charles T. Myers and concludes Oct. 14-15 at The Warrior and Stonebridge.
           
The 2006 schedule is comprised of 23 tournaments, held on Saturdays, at some of the area’s premier courses, including: NorthStone, Cabarrus Country Club, Rocky River, Charlotte National, CC of Salisbury and Rock Barn Golf & Spa.
           
“The AGT allows everyday golfers to go ‘on tour’ and compete against players of their own skill level,” said local tour director Dennis McCormac. “If you’ve ever wanted to experience golf like a professional, now you can.”
           
The Amateur Golf Tour is for amateurs of all ages and abilities. Members are placed in one of four flights based on handicaps. Flights are: Championship (0-5 handicap), A Flight (6-10), B Flight (11-15) and C Flight (16-21).
           
Tournament format is gross stroke play, with USGA rules in effect. A software program tracks each player’s handicap to ensure participants are placed in their proper flight.
           
Golfers may join the tour any time during the year for an $80 membership fee. That fee includes a gift bag and tour packet, and allows members to play in Charlotte tournaments, as well as other Amateur Golf Tour events nationwide. Membership also provides golfers reduced rates on practice rounds prior to some of the scheduled tournaments.            Entry fees for Charlotte events range from $75-$95. Those fees includes cart and green fees, range balls, gift certificates for the top three in each flight, plus closest-to-the-pin and long drive awards.
           
Prize winners at every tourney receive gift certificates from Edwin Watts Golf stores in Charlotte, while all participants earn points toward a season-long championship in their flight.
           
Golfers who finish in the top 10 in points in their flight receive invitations to the 2006 Amateur Tour Championship, Oct. 28-29 at Wild Wing Plantation in Myrtle Beach, S.C.