Tahoe celebrity golf tournament to get started in relaxed fashion

While the bulk of the American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament at Edgewood-Tahoe Golf Course doesn’t get started until next weekend, sports fans and autograph seekers will have several chances to get a relaxed look at some of the 2015 field this week.

The celebrity golf tournament’s festivities begin Tuesday with the Tahoe South Celebrity-Am. A practice round and the Harrah’s Celebrity-Am take place Wednesday, and are followed by the American Century Celebrity-Am Tournament on Thursday.

Dozens of celebrities featured during the main tournament July 17-19 use the midweek rounds to prepare for the American Century Championship. Some of the celebrities who participated in the celeb-am tournaments last year include Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith, former Major League Baseball player Kenny Lofton, former Chicago Bears quarterback Jim McMahon, former NFL quarterback Billy Joe Tolliver and former Washington Redskins quarterback and 2014 celebrity golf tournament winner Mark Rypien.

Tickets to the Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday events are $20 per day.

The main tournament runs Friday through Sunday, July 17-19, with television coverage on the NBC Sports Network Friday and NBC airing live coverage Saturday and Sunday. Golf Channel will also provide additional television coverage of the tournament. The 54-hole event features a celebrity field of sports and entertainment stars competing for $600,000 in prize money.

More than 80 entertainment and sports celebrities are scheduled to appear at the main tournament. The most recent player list includes singer/actor Justin Timberlake, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, former NBA star and announcer Charles Barkley, former San Francisco 49ers receiver Jerry Rice, former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Steve Young, Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, former NFL quarterback John Elway, former Boston Red Sox pitchers Roger Clemens and Olympic skier Bode Miller.

Comedians Larry the Cable Guy and Kevin Nealon, as well as actors Brian Baumgartner and Alfonso Ribeiro, round out the field.

Tickets for Friday through Sunday are $30 per day. Up to two children under 10 receive free admission when accompanied by a paying adult.

Edgewood is located at 100 Lake Parkway in Stateline. More information is available at www.tahoecelebritygolf.com.