Don't forget to swing by the downtown golf tournament

It's not every day you get to swing your 5-iron in downtown Cape Girardeau.

The First-Ever Ninth Annual Louis J. Lorimier Memorial World-Famous Downtown Golf Tournament takes place Sept. 28 and promises to be a fun experience for all ages.

The nine-hole course starts at the Common Pleas Courthouse lawn on Lorimier Street, which features one of the most iconic holes: the courthouse fountain. The course continues down to the alley near C.P. McGinty Jewelers and along the floodwall near the riverfront.

"The riverfront is a bit of a challenge because sometimes the BirdieBalls bounce in the river and float away," said organizer Charlie Herbst, "which is kind of fun, too."

The BirdieBalls, which are plastic and more closely resemble a napkin ring than a ball, are provided to participants with a strike pad. Those who plan to play are asked only to bring a club of their choice, either a 5-iron or 6-iron.

Herbst, a Cape Girardeau County associate commissioner, said the event is special for a few reasons. It's the first urban golf tournament that features BirdieBalls, which are considered ideal because of their light weight and short traveling distance. The tournament also serves as a fundraiser for the Red House Interpretive Center.

For many, Herbst said the tournament might offer the first opportunity for participants to see downtown as they walk to each hole.

"It's one of the rare opportunities to really see downtown up close. A lot of times you're just driving through," he said.

Participants unable to walk to each hole can take advantage of provided shuttles.

The entry fee is $25 for those who register by Wednesday. Herbst said the price has remained unchanged since the event's first year.

"We try to keep it a nominal fee so people can come and have fun and families can play," he said. "And it's great because the funds go toward the Red House and its maintenance."

The first 100 entrants will receive a free T-shirt, and all players will receive an all-you-can-eat catfish buffet at Port Cape Girardeau after the tournament.

About 40 people attended last year's tournament, braving intermittent rain. Herbst said he sees new faces at the event each year and expects the upcoming tournament to be no different. The tournament, open to all ages, also attracts many returning players.

"It's not just for people who play golf," Herbst said. "It's for anybody. It's for fun."

Players can fill out a score card as they play and compete for trophies handed out after the tournament.

Check-in starts at 1 p.m. Sept. 28, followed by tee time at 1:30 p.m. Registration forms are available online at cityofcapegirardeau.org/Parks/Red-House-Interpretive-Center.aspx or from the Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department at the Osage Centre and the Arena Building.

srinehart@semissourian.com

388-3641

Pertinent address:

44 N. Lorimier St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.