U.S. Kids Golf has announced a series of competitive events designed to give local youngsters an opportunity to develop their golf skills and test their games at top area courses this summer. The Baton Rouge Tour includes seven one-day tournaments leading up to the two-day Tour Championship in July.

 Tour events, which are open to boys and girls between the ages of 4 and 12, are played on regulation courses that have been shortened through the use of age- and gender-appropriate tees placed closer to the hole. Shorter holes promote enjoyment of the game, better scoring and competition, according to Tour officials.  Parents are encouraged to caddie for their sons and daughters.

 Players can register for Tour events by going to www.uskidsgolf.com and clicking on Tournaments.  A player’s age on July 31, 2006, determines his or her age bracket for Tour events.

 The Baton Rouge Tour begins at the LSU Golf Club in Baton Rouge on May 31 and continues at Belle Terre Country Club in La Place on June 12, Pelican Point Golf and Country Club in Gonzales on June 16, University Club of Baton Rouge in Baton Rouge on June 20, Ellendale Country Club in Houma on June 23, Sherwood Forest Country Club in Baton Rouge on July 5 and Beaver Creek Golf Course in Zachary on July 7. All events are stroke play with competitors grouped by age and gender.  Players earn points based on their finish at each event.  The top players in each age group qualify for the Tour Championship at the University Club of Baton Rouge, July 18-19.

 The player with the most points in each age and gender group at the end of the Tour season will be named Player of the Year and receive an invitation to a U.S. Kids Golf Regional Championship and to the 2007 U.S. Kids Golf World Championship.

 Through the Personal Tee Golf Learning Program and its Local Tours, Regional Championships, World Championship Qualifiers and the U.S. Kids Golf World Championship, U.S. Kids Golf provides opportunities for instruction and competition for thousands of kids throughout the U.S. and worldwide. For more information, call 1-888-3 US KIDS or visit the company’s web site at www.uskidsgolf.com.