Youth Benefit Golf Tournament

Presented by the North Santiam Chamber of Commerce & the Canyon Senior Center.

Salem-News.com Sports

LYONS, Ore. - Players from all over Oregon and beyond will come to play in the ninth annual Youth Benefit Golf Tournament (YBGT) on Sunday, August 8, 2009. The Santiam Canyon’s charity golf event is held at the spectacularly designed, award-winning Elkhorn Valley Golf Course in Lyons, Oregon.

All proceeds for this tournament will go to benefit and finance various Santiam Canyon youth projects. The goals of this tournament are to 1) Generate funds needed to help with activities and events involving youth living in the Santiam Canyon, 2) Demonstrate to youth that we believe in them, 3) Solicit the support of sponsors to make this tournament a continued success.

THE COURSE: Nestled in a small valley amidst the old growth forests of the Opal Creek Wilderness area, Elkhorn Valley Golf Course offers 18 challenging holes of golf in one of the Pacific Northwest's most spectacular settings. The award-winning front nine has captivated golfers of all abilities since 1976 and now the final nine holes are complete. The new back nine continues the Elkhorn tradition, taking advantage of all the natural topography and hazards that make this place so special—canyons, meandering streams, and wetlands and grand old stands of fir and other native trees.

When Elkhorn Valley was still a nine hole course, Sports Illustrated listed it among the nation's top five "half-tracks." In 1998, the readers of Golf Digest rated the course one of the top two best nine-hole courses in the country. Again in 2000, Golf Digest rated Elkhorn Valley the best, giving the course four and one-half stars.

For more information on the course, visit elkhorngolf.com.

IT’S FUN TO PLAY: Whether you’ve never played golf before or you’re an experienced golfer, come to the YBGT to play in a tournament for a good cause—to benefit youth. The tournament format will consist of three divisions for various handicaps: Men’s, Mixed and Hardly Ever Played.

Registration fees are $340 per four-person team if paid by August 1st, or $380 per team if paid after the 1st. Includes green fees, power golf cart, continental breakfast, buffet lunch and tee prize.

IT’S REWARDING TO BE A SPONSOR:

The North Santiam Chamber of Commerce and the Canyon Senior Center have joined together to present the YBGT. For the eighth year in a row, the title sponsor is Freres Lumber Company of Lyons. The super platinum sponsor is Santiam Memorial Hospital and Salem Hematology as signed up as a platinum sponsor. We have additional sponsorship opportunities available.

* Your company will be recognized and listed on the YBGT web site, www.ybgolf.com. If you have a web site, we will provide a link to your business.

* Your company will be listed as a sponsor on the multi-color custom score card used by the players, as well as on the rules sheet that is given to all players.

* Your company’s name will be included on all printed marketing collateral, including flyers, posters, registration forms and the like.

* Your company will be recognized as a sponsor at the annual “Santiam Canyon Awards Night” program, which is when YBGT proceeds are awarded to recipients.

* Your company will be recognized again after the tournament is over when we announce the results of the tournament to local media.

* Your company will have the privilege of participating in an amazing benefit event, contributing to the success of the youth in the Canyon.

Sponsorship history

Over the years, the generous support of sponsors has helped us generate proceeds that have provided more than $60,510 worth of funding for youth-related projects in the Santiam Canyon area.

Donations needed for this year’s event

Donations such as golf balls, golf towels and tees are needed. We are also looking for high-value prizes to be awarded throughout the tournament. Please contact Mike Long at 503.897.4902.

For more information on the tournament, visit ybgolf.com or call 503.897.4902.

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