SouthArk Junior Golf (SAJG) announced the Jimmy Howard Tournament of Champions will be hosted by Mystic Creek Golf Club on Wednesday, beginning at 9 a.m. Junior golfers from four south Arkansas counties and also from communities in north Louisiana will compete in this event.
The tournament is the culmination of a six-month series of SAJG tournaments that began in January. Players will compete for SAJG trophies in five separate divisions. In addition, this year the winners from the 15 to 18 year old girls and boys divisions will be awarded entrance in the Arkansas State Golf Association (ASGA) State Match Play tournament held in Little Rock on July 20-23.
SAJG Tournaments have been played at area courses including The Lions Club, Camden Country Club, El Dorado Country Club, Pine Hills Country Club in Smackover and the Haynesville, La. golf course.
“Our monthly events are held on some very fine regional golf courses, but Mystic Creek presents challenges that some of our players have not seen before,” says Art Noyes, Executive Director of KidsNGolf. “Quick undulating greens, numerous sand bunkers, carries over water and deep rough requiring that shots find the fairways, make Mystic Creek a difficult test. To win this event, you will have to play your very best golf - with patience and composure.”
The tournament is titled in honor of Jimmy Howard, one of the original KidsNGolf coaches. Born in El Dorado in 1939, Howard started working as a caddy at the El Dorado Golf & Country Club at the age of 16. There he caddied for everyday golfers and for future pro golfers Davis Love Jr. and Richard Crawford.
He said he learned to play golf through on the job training and by watching the golfers and every once a while, hitting a few balls while caddying. The golf pro, Hogan Roundtree, would allow the caddies to play golf on Mondays when the course was closed to the public.
It wasn’t until the 1970s that Howard was allowed to play on a local golf course. He is believed to be the first black golfer to integrate the Lions Club Golf Course and won his first tournament in the 80s - The Kiwanis Golf Tournament. He credited Chesley Pruet as the first person to allow him to play at the country club.
Howard, who currently resides in Dallas, became one of the best golfers in this area. Health and vision issues have slowed him down recently, but he is beloved by young and old who have benefited from his guidance and example.
Family and friends are encouraged to come out to the course and support these junior golfers as a part of the gallery along the fairways. For more information, visit www.southarkjuniorgolf.org or call (870) 299-0192.