It's the second season, and all indications point to a record year of participation as The Tin Whistles and The First Tee have announced the schedule for The Tin Whistles-First Tee Tour Series.

The series, which is open to boys and girls ages 8 to 18, kicks off June 17-18 at Foxfire Resort and Country Club. Other events are scheduled June 30-July 1 at Seven Lakes Country Club, July 14-15 at Pinehurst Country Club Course No. 8, July 21-22 at Country Club of Whispering Pines, and July 28-29 at Southern Pines Country Club. The final event will be held in August at Talamore Golf Club, but the date has yet to be set.

The mission of the tour is to provide young golfers the opportunity to "take the next step" toward becoming accomplished tournament players while displaying the inherent core values of The First Tee and respect for the game as exemplified by The Tin Whistles.

Each event will be 36 holes and the fields are limited to 60 golfers. Entrants who are 11 years and younger play nine holes each day. Players 12 and over play 18 holes. Players will be flighted according to age and gender dependent on the field.

The entry fee remains $30 per player, per event for older players, and $15 for those 11 years and younger. Entry forms can be downloaded at www.twftjrtour.com.

A unique feature of the Tin Whistles-First Tee Tour series is the "race" for the Tour Championship. Designed much like the Fed-Ex Cup competition on the PGA Tour, players will be awarded points for each event based on their order of finish.

The player with the most points at the end of the series will be declared Tour Champion. He or she will have his or her name inscribed on the Tour Championship Trophy, which resides in the Tin Whistles display in the Tufts Archives section of Givens Memorial Library in Pinehurst.

The champion and his or her family will also be invited to the Tin Whistles Annual Christmas Gala at which a replica trophy will be presented.

The First Tee of the Sandhills is a tax-exempt, nonprofit organization formed in 2003 as a chapter of the National First Tee program. The primary mission is to "impact the lives of young people by providing learning facilities and educational programs that promote character development and life- enhancing values through the game of golf."

Since 2003, more than 1,500 young people have participated in the program.

The Tin Whistles, founded in 1904, is the oldest men's golfing fraternity in the country. Based in Pinehurst, this 300-member organization promotes the tradition and standards of sportsmanship, while enjoying the spirit of good fellowship through golf.

For more information, contact Bob Hepner at 215-9585 or by e-mail at bobhep@earthlink.net, or visit the Web site at www.twftjrtour.com.