Be a part of history, or just read about it

If you have already signed up for the First-Ever Second Annual Louis J. Lorimier Memorial World-Famous Downtown Golf Tournament and All-You-Can-Eat Catfish Buffet, good.

If you haven't, here's the first of many reasons you will be hearing about in the next few weeks to do so.

Reason No. 1: I have it on good authority that hole No. 4 (last year's hole No. 6) of the Old Course is about to be permanently obliterated. Razed. Leveled. Wiped off the map.

Bear with me while I explain.

Last year's tournament was played on what this year is affectionately being called the Old Course. The Old Course started near the gazebo in Courthouse Park and worked its way down the terraced hillside to No. 6, which everyone who played agreed was just about the most interesting hole of all.

You see, it started at the back door of the Convention and Visitors Bureau building at the corner of Broadway and Main Street and worked its way through the building. That's right. Inside the building. Room to room.

This year, the Old Course is being played in reverse, starting at the Red House Interpretive Center on Aquamsi Street and finishing near the gazebo in Courthouse Park, where the catfish buffet will be laid out.

And there's the New Course, which also starts at the Red House and meanders through the River Campus.

But here's the lowdown: Since last year's first-ever first annual tournament, the CVB folks have moved up the hill. By the time the first-ever third annual tournament rolls around sometime in 2008, the building at corner of Broadway and Main could well be gone. Demolished.

You know that feature in the Sunday paper called "Lost and saved landmarks"? Well, the former CVB building, which used to be a bank, will be in the "lost" column.

Here's my point: Unless you sign up for this year's first-ever second annual downtown golf tournament, you may not ever have another opportunity to golf through that building.

Just think about it.

You can play in the tournament and tell your friends and grandkids about the time you golfed through a downtown building.

Or, you can not play in the tournament and regret, for the rest of your life, that you didn't do it when you had the opportunity. Life's like that.

Sometimes you pass up the best chances for good memories and great stories and settle for a lazy Sunday afternoon sitting in front of your wide-screen TV. That's your choice.

But don't come whining to me when, down the road, you're listening to all your friends reminisce about that golden June afternoon back in ought-seven when the last-ever hole of golf went through the CVB building.

Here's what you need to do.

Don't procrastinate until it's too late. Sign up right now for the downtown golf tournament.

It's a great way to see downtown.

It's a great way to raise money for the Red House.

It's a great way to meet new friends.

It's a great way to enjoy a catfish buffet.

Watch for the entry forms in the paper. The tournament is June 24 with a start time of 1:30 p.m. Everybody will gather in front of the Red House whether you're playing the Old Course or the New Course.

Special golf balls will be provided, along with a carpet square to hit from. You only need one club (a 5-iron or 6-iron will do just fine).

I think Louis Lorimier, founder of our fair city, would be pleased as punch to know he is being memorialized in a downtown golf tournament.

So sign up.

Do it for Louis. Or God, country and motherhood.

Whatever. Just don't not do anything.

I'm sure you get my drift.

R. Joe Sullivan is the editor of the Southeast Missourian.