Tough golfers take on the Sagebrush Classic in Silver Springs

It may not showcase celebrities like soap star Jack Wagner, winner of the American Century Championship title at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course, but the real hardy golfers will come out for the Sagebrush Classic at the Silver Springs airport on Saturday.

This rough-and-tumble, nine-hole charity golf event will feature natural sand traps - sagebrush - and handicapping by Mother Nature, according to organizer Susan Wells. She added that the landscaping has been handled by jackrabbits, quail, lizards and maybe even a few snakes.

"We will have some grass," Wells said with a laugh.

Tee-off begins at 8 a.m. and clubs are provided, as is a barbecue lunch.

Cost for the classic is $25 per person or $80 for a foursome; $20 and $75 for those who pre-register.

The Sagebrush Classic will benefit restoration of the community readerboard at the corner of Highway 50 and Highway 95A in Silver Springs, which was damaged in this year's winter and spring storms. Wells said the readerboard, which lists upcoming events in Silver Springs, has been at the corner for about 15 years, and has been unusable since the storms.

Wells said every hole is being sponsored, so there will be 18 winners, with a prize for both the best and worst golfers on each hole.

The event is organized by the Silver Springs Chamber of Commerce.

"We had a great response to requests for donations from golf courses in the area," Wells said. "Almost every golf course has donated two rounds of golf with cart that will be raffled off to raise more money."

One raffle prize is four tickets to the Reno-Tahoe Open at Montreax Country Club on Aug. 21-27.

Wells said she hopes this event is the first of many.

"This is the infancy," she said. "This is the baby one, but hopefully we can have this every year."

• Contact reporter Karen Woodmansee at kwoodmansee@ nevadaappeal.com or 882-2111 ext. 351.

If you go

WHAT: Sagebrush Classic Golf Tournament

WHEN: 8 a.m. Saturday

WHERE: Silver Springs Airport, Highway 50, Silver Springs

COST: $25 per person; $80 for foursome or $20 person; $75 for foursome with pre-registration.

CALL: (775) 577-4336

Proceeds: Benefit repair of the community readerboard