Golf

The price to play golf at Hagerstown Greens at Hamilton Run could rise in 2012. The Hagerstown City Council will vote next week on a proposal  to increase fees at the city-owned golf course between 50 cents and $4 per round and between $40 and $55 for season passes. Under the proposal from city officials, cart rentals would also increase between 75 cents and $3 per person. The city has been actively seeking to reduce the course's dependence on an interfund subsidy while also improving its viability.

Golf The final prep events are around the corner with state championships in Maryland and Pennsylvania on the docket. College Park is the host for the Maryland final Monday through Wednesday. Heritage Hills Country Club, in York, is the site for the Pennsylvania state finals scheduled for Monday and Tuesday. North Hagerstown's Aaron Staley will make his third straight Maryland state appearance and his first in the 3A/4A competition on Monday. The following day, Smithsburg's Kyle Huntzberry, Christian Grosh and Shane Fritts will compete in 1A/2A.

A golf benefit for a Jefferson County man who was critically injured in a head-on vehicle crash in July 2010 will be held Oct. 21 at Locust Hill Country Club, according to organizers. The deadline to register for the Richard "Tex" Lee Golf Benefit is Oct. 14. The registration fee is $100 per golfer and $100 to sponsor a hole. Door prizes and a barbecue will follow the tournament. A lifelong resident, Lee and his wife, Carol, were taken to Winchester (Va.) Medical Center after the July 3, 2010, collision on Middleway Pike, police have said.

North Hagerstown captured its second straight Washington County Public Schools golf crown on Monday at Black Rock Golf Course. The Hubs put together a 334 total to outlast Smithsburg by two shots on a day of mixed weather conditions, ranging from morning drizzle to afternoon sun and wind. • Click here to view and purchase photos from this event! “We eked that one out,” said North coach Joel Rice. “I think our advantage was our (No.) four, five and six players.

Graystone Tower Bank recently hosted its fifth annual Charity Golf Tournament at Hershey (Pa.) Country Club. Approximately 200 golfers teed off at the event, which raised more than $40,000 to benefit several not-for-profit agencies across the Graystone Tower Bank footprint, including five key beneficiary organizations: Pennsylvania Industries for the Blind and Handicapped, Ephrata Community Hospital, Horizon Initiative, Westtown-East Goshen Regional...

The Hagerstown City Council has informally agreed to close the city golf course in the winter to save money and is considering improving the financially struggling operation in an effort to reduce its dependence on an annual subsidy. Among the ideas discussed Tuesday during a council meeting were renovations to the clubhouse at Hagerstown Greens at Hamilton Run, the addition of concessions - including the sale of alcohol - and closing the course during the winter months. The council discussed the possibilities for the golf course at length but did not take any formal votes.

Children's Village of Washington County Inc. will host its 17th annual Keep our Kids Safe Four Man Scramble Golf Classic Friday, Sept. 9, at Black Rock Golf Course. The putting contest begins at 1 p.m. and the shotgun start begins at noon. The hole-in-one prize is a $22,000 cash prize. Dinner follows the tournament. A bag lunch will be provided, sponsored by Provident Agency.   The entry fee is $100 per person. Corporate sponsor packages are available, as well as hole and cart sponsor opportunities.

The Beyond Ordinary Fashion Show held Aug. 5 to Benefit the Humane Society of Washington County raised $1,284.64 for the animal shelter. On Aug. 17, Jodi Colombo of Beyond Ordinary LLC presented the check to Katherine Cooker, manager of development and community relations at the shelter, according to a news release. The event was held at the Ramada Plaza and fashions were provided by a number of shops at Hagerstown Premium Outlets and Potomac Bridals.   Jewelry was provided by Touchstone Crystal.

North Hagerstown and Smithsburg each reached the Maryland state tournament in 2010. In both camps, there are expectations of a repeat trip in October. Behind Aaron Staley, North made its first appearance since 1984. The Leopards have been regular visitors, having won the 2005 team title in Class 1A/2A. Staley, now a junior and the reigning Herald-Mail Washington County Player of the Year, is the top name among local linksters, coming off a year in which he averaged 37.8 strokes per nine holes.

Our economic times have taken a toll on most everyone in recent years. As the days and months move along, little by little things get progressively worse. The financial hits are everywhere from Wall Street to Bankruptcy Street to Foreclosure Street. You know, it's all the little guys like you and me who aren't fortunate enough to be in the fast lane of professional sports making millions and millions of dollars annually. The trickle-down effects of the economy are everywhere.