By Dallas Oler
Golf, jogging, softball. Whoever the sports enthusiast and whatever the age, there is something for everyone in this year”s America”s Freedom Festival at Provo.
Runners from across the United States gather annually to participate in America”s Freedom Festival Freedom Run in Provo on the Fourth of July.
This year”s gathering promises to be the biggest ever, with an anticipated 3,000 participants. “Last year we had 2,400 runners and this year we expect close to 3,000,” said Hawk Harper, event co-chair.
Registration forms are available at Runners Corner in Orem, the Daily Herald, The Freedom Festival Office and at other sporting stores in Utah County. Forms are also available online at www.freedomfestival-usa.com.
America”s Freedom Festival will host its annual Firecracker Softball Tournament Friday and Saturday, June 29-30.
“This is one of the premier softball tournaments in the state and because it”s tied with the Freedom Festival, it offers other amenities for people to participate in as well,” said Paul Jamison, event chair.
There will be four separate divisions of play: women”s division, men”s C class, men”s D class, and men”s E class.
Special competitions will also be offered including a home run derby, a base running contest, and an accuracy/distance throwing contest, according to a Freedom Festival press release.
Teams may register at the Provo City Parks and Recreation Office located at 351 West Center Street in Provo. The fee for teams Registered with the United States Specialty Sports Association is $185. The fee for teams not registered with the USSSA is $210, according to www.freedomfestival-usa.com.
For those who would prefer to play a little golf, there will be a tournament for golfers of all ages and abilities.
Golfers ages 10 to 17 may participate in the Junior Golf Tournament at Cascade Golf Club on June 25.
Junior golfers will be divided into two age groups, 10-13 and 14-17, with flights in each division for boys and girls. The morning flight includes boys 14-15, 16-17, and girls 14-17. The flight will begin at 8 a.m.
Boys and girls will play 18 holes of individual stroke play. The entry fee for the morning is $20. Check-in begins at 7 a.m.
The afternoon flight includes boys 10-11, 12-13, and girls 10-13. Boys and girls will play nine holes of individual stroke play in the afternoon beginning at 1:30 p.m. The entry fee for the afternoon is $10. Check-in begins at 12:30 p.m.
“We feel it important that all who participate in the tournament go away having had a positive experience,” said Randy Anderson, head professional, Cascade Golf Center.
Entries for the tournament will be handled on a first come, first serve basis. All reservations should be made through Cascade Golf Center at 1313 East 850 North in Orem, or by phone at (801) 225-6677.
In the Senior Golf Tournament, a field of 120 two-person teams will play two-man best ball, with each team being placed in one of the flights according to the lowest handicap on the team. The first two flights will begin at 8 a.m. and the second two flights will begin at 2 p.m.
Entries will be handled on a first come, first serve basis and reservations must be accompanied with the entry fee of $100 per team. This event is sanctioned by the Utah Golf Association, making it mandatory for all entrants to have a current UGA handicap card, the release said.
Entries, along with the $100 entry fee, current UGA handicap and card number, and the preferred starting time (8 a.m. or 2 p.m.) should be sent directly to East Bay Golf Club, P.O. Box 50413, Provo, Utah 84605.
