Bar Harbor Open offers reduced entry to walkers Paul Bunyan Golf Tourney adds three flights

The 17th annual Bar Harbor Bank and Trust Open, set for May 31-June 1, has added a fee option for this year’s event.

The tournament now includes a price of $110 for players who prefer to walk. The regular price of $150 includes use of a golf cart on each of the two days.

“People love options,” said Jane Sanderson, spokeswoman for Maine Coast Memorial Hospital, which conducts the fundraiser. Net proceeds this year will benefit MCMH’s Southwest Harbor Medical Center.

The tournament had already made one change by signing Kebo Valley Golf Club in Bar Harbor to partner with Northeast Harbor Golf Club for the two-day tourney, making it an all-Mount Desert Island affair. Half the field will play Kebo Valley the first day while the other half plays Northeast Harbor. The next day, the two groups switch courses.

In the past, said Sanderson, players would pay an entry fee ($85 last year), then make their own arrangements for renting carts. Also, tourney volunteers would seek to raise extra money by encouraging people to enter raffles or other contests for an extra fee.

This year, the tournament board decided to make the entry fee all-inclusive, but Sanderson discovered that message was missed by some of the regular participants.

“We made a lot of changes all at once,” said Sanderson.

For more information or to register online, go to www.mcmhospital.org.

Bunyan tourney adds three flights

The 44th annual Whited Ford Paul Bunyan Amateur Golf Tournament has added three flights and an additional $2,000 in prize money, according to tourney director Skip Chappelle.

The tourney, scheduled June 6-8, has added international, senior and club championship flights in addition to its usual A, B, C divisions.

The Irving International Flight is open to players who are permanent residents outside the United States. The Wells Fargo Reverse Mortgage Senior Flight is open to players who are 60 and older. The Whited Sterling Club Championship Flight is open to four or more players from the same club.

To qualify for prizes, golfers must play all three days of the tourney, which is scheduled at Penobscot Valley County Club in Orono, Kebo Valley Golf Club in Bar Harbor, and the Rockland Golf Course.

The three-day tourney is open to 360 participants who are age 18 or older and whose handicaps do not exceed 30. Those under age 18 may only compete if they have a handicap under 7.

Those seeking more information may contact Chappelle at 941-9549 or visit www.bunyangolf.com