Youth invited to compete in tour

Golf events kick off at Aliante on June 19

Local youth will get a chance to showcase their golfing skills starting this month with the U.S. Kids Golf 2007 Las Vegas Tour.

A series of competitive events designed to give youngsters an opportunity to develop and test their games at top area courses throughout the summer -- six one-day tournaments leading up to a tour championship -- will kick off at Aliante Golf Club in North Las Vegas on June. 19.

Tour events are open to boys and girls ages 12 and under and will be played on regulation courses that have been shortened through the use of age- and gender-appropriate tees placed closer to the hole.

Parents are encouraged to caddie for their sons and daughters.

After the Aliante event, the tour continues at Rhodes Ranch Golf Club, Dragon Ridge Golf Course in Henderson, Boulder Creek Golf Club in Boulder City, Silverstone Golf Club and Siena Golf Club.

All events are stroke play with competitors grouped by age and biological sex.

Players earn points based on their finish at each event.

The top players in each group will qualify for the tour championship at the Silverstone Golf Course on July 27.

The player with the most points in each group at the end of the tour will be named Player of the Year and will receive an invitation to a U.S. Kids Golf Regional Championship and to the 2008 U.S. Kids Golf World Championship.

Players can register for tour events by visiting www.uskidsgolf.com and clicking on "Tournaments."

A player's age as of July 31 determines his or her age group for tour events.

U.S. Kids Golf, which operates the Personal Tee Golf Learning Program, local tours, regional championships, world championship qualifiers and the U.S. Kids Golf World Championships, provides opportunities for instruction and competition for thousands of children worldwide.

For more information about the tour, call (888) 387-5437.