ESTEVAN - The Estevan Oilfield Technical Society is getting ready for its next event of the year.
The OTS will host its third annual mixed scramble tournament on July 6 at the Hideout Golf Course at the Hidden Valley Golf and RV Resort. Up to 90 golfers can enter the nine-hole tournament, which is open to anyone who supports the oil and gas sector.
"We've been in around that 70-75 mark. We call 72 full. That's eight people per hole for nine holes. But we can accommodate up to 90 if we get a rush [of registrations]. If you walk up that day, we'll take you," said OTS president Tony Sernick.
The tournament is currently at three-quarters capacity.
There will be a shotgun start at 2 p.m. Using a better-ball format, which is similar to a Texas scramble except with two people, everybody will tee off, and then the respective tandems head to their ball and pick whichever tee shot was better.
"It's a little bit different format where with normal golf you'd have four people per hole, and here you'll have eight to 10 people per hole. It's just a good little atmosphere on a nice little course."
Once the tournament is over, supper and socializing will happen in a tented area at Hidden Valley known as the saloon. They will serve a roast beef on a bun supper and the top three finishers will be recognized. Each hole will have such prizes as closest to the pin and longest putt.
Last year's winning team, Chad and Erin Farr, recorded a 3-under-par 26 on the executive-length course.
The tournament started two years ago when Sernick was talking to the owners of Hidden Valley about trying to get a tournament at the Hideout. The response was better than expected in the first year, and the OTS hopes the support remains so the tournament can continue.
Sernick noted there is a lot happening in the area that weekend, especially at Hidden Valley with the inaugural River Jamm outdoor concert, featuring music by Snake Oil and the SJS Band. That event is July 5 at 5 p.m.
