BY HOWARD WARD

Golf Writer

It's only four weeks until the first event of the Summer Tin Whistles First Tee Tour, and for golfers age 12 through 17, this means six two-day tournaments on some of the area's premier golf coursees.

The Tin Whistles Club, one of the oldest and most prestigious golf organizations in the world, teams with The First Tee of the Sandhills to provide a tour-level playing experience for area youths.

The tournaments are held on weekday afternoons during the summer, beginning June 17 and running through Aug. 20.

Golfers compete in 36 holes of stroke play competition and the events are flighted according to age, gender and skill level. Participation in these tournaments helps prepare players for high school and college competition, according to Bob Hepner, organizer for the Tin Whistles.

Golfers must carry or pull their own equipment, and spectators must follow tour guidelines specific to each event. Players must have been born after June 16, 1991, to be eligible.

Competition for golfers younger than 12 years is Stableford System, and all golfers must be deemed "course ready" before participating. For information on this, contact First Tee Executive Director Bill Baker at 783-8288.

Dates and sites for scheduled tournaments are June 17-18 at Foxfire Resort and Golf; June 30-July 1 at Seven Lakes Country Club; July 14-15 at Pinehurst Resort No. 8; July 21-22 at Country Club of Whispering Pines; July 28-29 at Southern Pines Golf Club; and Aug. 19-20 at Pinewild Country Club.

The Moore County Junior Amateur Championship is scheduled for Oct. 31-Nov. 1 at Talamore Golf Club.

A Tour Championship Trophy will be awarded to the player finishing with the highest accumulation of points for the first six events.

For entry forms, visit the Web site at www.thefirstteesandhills. org.