ROGERS — Children’s laughter rolled over the 17th green Wednesday morning at Pinnacle Country Club.
The popularity last year of the kid’s center at the LPGA tournament prompted organizers to make it bigger this year, said Harry Hardy, director of the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G.
“The entire footprint has doubled in size,” Hardy said.
The air-conditioned tent is larger, sports a viewing deck over the 16th green and more space in the miniature golf tent. The center also opened a day earlier this year. Children shaded in pictures of LPGA golfers or practiced their video game golf skills as an electronic version of Tiger Woods.
At A Glance
Getting There
• Tickets can be purchased online at www.nwachampionship.com/tickets. Daily tickets are $15 and a weekly pass is $30. Veterans, active service members and fire, police and other emergency service employees can get in free by displaying their identification. Admission for children 17 and under is free with a ticketed adult.
• Spectator parking: Shuttles carry spectators to the course from public parking off Interstate 540 exit 82. Follow the signs. Shuttles run from 8:45 a.m. to 8 p.m. today and from 7:45 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday through Saturday. Parking is $5.
• What not to bring: coolers, outside food and drink and large bags are not permitted on the golf course. No cameras are permitted Friday through Sunday.
Source: Staff Report
The free ice cream truck was the draw for Allisa Short and Elise Gassmann, both 11. They were licking through their fourth Popsicle a little more than an hour into their stay at the Kid’s Center, Allisa said. The activity tent was more fun than just playground equipment.
Hole No. 2 in the miniature golf tent was hard because of its sand trap, said Tony Dominguez, 10.
“I’ve already made a hole-in-one in this one and that one,” he said pointing to holes No. 1 and No. 3 in the miniature golf tent.
The tournament is about creating a family experience, said Jay Allen, tournament chairman.
“We want the tournament to appeal to not just golfers and golf fans,” he said.
People can come and watch a little or a lot of golf, but they will still be a part of the moment, Allen said. Children are admitted to the tournament for free with an adult and activities at the tent are free.
Boys & Girls Clubs in Bella Vista, Fayetteville, Rogers and two Bentonville clubs bused about 200 children to the center Wednesday morning.
At A Glance
Kid’s Center Schedule
• Open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. during the tournament
• Strike, mascot of the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, will visit the tent from 11 a.m. to noon Saturday
Source: Staff Report
“A lot of our kids are probably not exposed to golf a lot, so this is all new to them,” said Sabrina Rampy, director of community relations for Boys & Girls Club of Benton County.
The Benton County and Fayetteville clubs received a $15,000 donation to be divided between them during a ceremony Wednesday morning. The donation was presented by Jody Pinson, Walmart vice president of beauty merchandising, and George Hamilton, director of sales at Unilever for Walmart.
The donation will support programs that develop character, leadership, healthy lifestyle choices and better grades, Rampy said.
There are about 1,000 children daily in summer programs between the two counties, said Eric Schult, executive director of Boys & Girls Club of Fayetteville. The LPGA event offers a chance for children to meet positive role models and to have a fun field trip, Schult said.
“This is one of the favorite field trips in the summer,” said Pablo Aguilar, 16.
Three LPGA players signed a hat for Isac Solis, 11. He didn’t know their names, but said he was enjoying the day.
“I could sell it for a lot,” he said looking at his newly autographed hat, “but I’m going to keep it.”