IronMan Tourney Pits Players
Against Desert Heat and 54 Holes

When the sun starts to bake the Arizona desert, most animals find places of shelter, but not the golfers in Lake Havasu City, Ariz., America�s hottest inhabited area.

At the height of summer, hundreds of men and women will gather for the fourth annual IronMan Golf Tournament. They�ll play three courses, 54 holes, in one day, on Aug. 26, 2000 when temperatures are known to reach the 120-degree mark.

Are they crazy? Some say, yes. But each year more and more golfers want to test their metal against the gruelling conditions and vie for a piece of the prize money and bragging rights to having survived what could be the ultimate test in golf.

The touranment, presented by the Lake Havasu Lighthouse Club, benefits the Child Enrichment Fund which makes scholarships available to children who cannot afford to participate in programs at the city�s Parks and Recreation Department. Money raised will also provide additional navigational lighting on the lake.

The tournament is open to amateurs only and will be a four-person scramble with blind handicap. Prize money will be paid to the top three teams and there will be cash and merchandise prizes on nearly every hole. In addition, some impressive hole-in-one prizes will be up for grabs.

On Aug. 25, the event kicks off with a sponsor�s night at the Ramada Inn where participants will enjoy dinner, door prizes, a no-host bar and an opportunity to support their favorite foursome. There will also be a Celebrity Players Auction where teams will be able to bid for the opportunity to make a celebrity golfer part of their foursome.

On Saturday, the golfers tee off at 6:30 in the morning in a shotgun start on all three courses. Water stations will be available all along the way, and food and beverages will be available at each clubhouse throughout the day. The event will wrap up around 7 p.m. at the Nautical Inn Resort where an awards dinner will take place.

In three years of play, there has not been an injury or a player drop out because of heat; however, paramedics will be on standby. Golfers are advised to take the heat seriously and avoid alcohol until all 54 holes are completed. Lake Havasu City holds a national record high temperature of 128 degrees and is the hottest spot in the nation more days of the year than any other location. They don�t call this an iron man (woman) tournament for nothing.

Tournament survivor shirts and caps will be available, and each golfer will receive a souvenir goody bag. The entry fee is $125 per person if teams register before Aug. 5, and $150 thereafter. Entry forms are available from the three participating golf courses: London Bridge East, London Bridge West and Havasu Island Golf Course. Or phone Above All Real Estate at (520) 855-9999 and ask for Jack, or Havasu Island Golf at (520) 855-5585 and ask for Rob.