The little touches mean a lot, apparently, for the people who play in the Bar Harbor Bank and Trust Open golf tournament.

“Once people play in it, they give it a good mark,” said Jane Sanderson, public relations and development assistant for Maine Coast Memorial Hospital in Ellsworth. The hospital is the tournament’s charity beneficiary.

This year’s tournament, the 14th, is June 4-5 at Bar Harbor Golf Course in Trenton and Northeast Harbor Golf Club.

The field is split in half, and each half plays one course the first day and the other course the second day.

The special touches especially include things to eat, from the continental breakfast in the morning to ice cream sundaes and all-you-can-eat homemade chowder starting at mid-morning to a wine-and-cheese party.

When mixed with other amenities such as $5,000 in prizes, playing two challenging golf courses, chances to win two cars with holes-in-one, and helping raise money for Maine Coast Memorial, it’s no surprise players return year after year.

“People come from all over the state and Massachusetts,” Sanderson said.

Sanderson said they like to have between 375 and 420 players. Last year’s field dropped to 300, but the committee is working hard to get the numbers back up.

The entry fee is $85, but $60 of that is a tax-deductible contribution to the hospital. This year, the proceeds will benefit the hospice/palliative care suites and diabetes education at Maine Coast Memorial.

Hospice is end-of-life care, explained Sanderson, while palliative care is “soothing care. It’s [for] an illness that needs continuous care and repetitive hospitalization.”

Entries this year have already passed 60 teams. They would like 100, she said.

“We will take individuals and fill in teams,” said Sanderson.

The tournament is stroke play competition with various categories for men and women.

Registration forms are available, but entry can also be done by phone (664-5337) and online (www.mainehospital.org).

Publinx signup

Entries are available for the 80th U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship qualifying tournament to be held June 21 at Bangor Municipal Golf Course.

The winner, or more if the number of entries warrants it, of the 36-hole qualifier will advance to the Publinx Championship July 11-16 at Shaker Run Golf Club in Lebanon, Ohio.

Eligible players are those who, since Jan. 1, have been bona fide public course players with a current USGA Handicap Index of 8.4 or lower. Eligibility details are included on the application.

Forms can be picked up at the Bangor Muni pro shop or by calling Austin Kelly, the former head pro at Bangor Muni who is now the local United States Golf Association representative, at 947-7726. Entries can also be filled out online at www.usga.org/champs/apply.

Entries must be received at the USGA office in Far Hills, N.J., by 5 p.m. on May 25.

The fee is $30 and covers play in the qualifier and the championship.

Algonquin tourney coming up

The Algonquin Men’s Invitational, a stroke play event with a number of divisions based on handicap, is less than two weeks away.

The event runs May 14-15 at Algonquin Golf Course in St. Andrews, New Brunswick, with a free practice round included on May 13.

The entry fee is $140 Canadian, tax included. The field is limited to the first 120 entrants.

To reserve a spot, call the club at 506-529-8165 and have your credit card handy.

Dave Barber can be reached at 990-8170, 1-800-310-8600, or by e-mail at dbarber@bangordailynews.net.