Shiver me timbers!

A two-man Shamble Tournament is scheduled for this weekend atthe Brookhaven Country Club. If you have never played golf in ashamble format, this column encourages you to give it a try.

The shamble is the offspring of a scramble. Under the shamblerules, each golfer on a team hits a tee shot. The best tee shot isselected and then each player uses his own ball for the remainderof the hole. Score is kept like a 4-ball and the best score of a2-man team is recorded.

Certainly, a shamble requires a lot more concentration andeffort than a scramble. We could ramble on for several paragraphsbut the best answer is to try it.

According to BCC general manager and PGA pro RonnyRoss, this weekend’s shamble is limited to the first 40paid teams. Entry fee is $50 for members and $75 for nonmembers.

There will be a 12:30 p.m. shotgun start on Saturday and Sunday.Entry fee will cover carts, mulligans and prizes.

Ross said the Acushnet Company is hosting a Cobra Demo Day onFriday, from 12-4 p.m. This display of Cobra products is open tothe public and Ross is hoping for a large turnout. Golfers willhave an opportunity to try the equipment.

In other golf news, a 12-under 58 won Tuesday’s Senior Scrambleat the BCC. The winning team included Gene Hardin,George Bokros, Tommy Sasser andBob Howell.

Three teams tied for second with a score of 60.Wayne Wilson, ChuckSmith, Pat Hennington and TexSample composed one team. Another team featuredLarry Randle, Harold Boteler, BillyBuford and Jim Branning. The other teamat 10 under included John Darrington,Bob & WandaScott and Charles Kelly.

The Senior Scramble is open to the public and starts everyTuesday at 9 a.m.

In other BCC news, Ross said the BCC has landed the Class 4AState Golf Tournament, May 5-6. Brookhaven’s Panthers, coached byRyan Ross, will be the host team. This should be aboost to the local economy, especially the restaurants andmotels.

In Wesson, Loyd Star will again host the Class 2A StateTournament for a third straight year, also May 5-6, at the WolfHollow Golf Club. The Hornets, coached by RickyMyers, are defending state champions and appear poised tomake another strong run at the title.

Mark your calendar. The 10th Annual Co-LinFoundation Golf Classic is scheduled Tuesday, June 17, at the WolfHollow Golf Club. Hole sponsorships are still available. This is anoutstanding event and businessmen look forward to the annualaffair.

According to Scott Kelly, co-manager ofMagnolia Golf Trail, tourists don’t know what they’re missing whenthey drive through Mississippi on their way to a golf vacation inFlorida or South Carolina. “Mississippi is an undiscovered jewelfor golf. Our courses are the caliber you would expect to find inFlorida or Hilton Head (S.C.).”

In order to change their geographic destination, the MagnoliaGolf Trail was established. It includes 14 premier golf courses,plus 261 holes of golf, and 55 miles of fairways.

The courses are geographically located from Robinsonville, inthe Tunica gaming hub just outside Memphis, to Bay St. Louis whereyou can enjoy a scenic look at the Gulf of Mexico. Each MGT coursehad to meet well-defined criteria, guaranteeing quality, highstandard course layouts and amenities. Architects of theses layoutsinclude such well-known names as Arnold Palmer,Mark McCumber and Jerry Pate.

In Mississippi, every course has worked independently toestablish its own reputation,” said Ron Hickman,general manger of Timberton Golf Club in Hattiesburg. “Until now,we never have come together as one group and showcased whatoutstanding courses we have.”

The $49.95 membership fee for individuals includes one-half offan introductory round at the MGT course of choice and ongoing,preferred MGT discounted green fees ranging between 20-40 percent.Members also receive the Magnolia Trail magazine as wellas merchandise discounts at select MGT clubs.

Currently, MGT courses include River Ben Links of Robinsonville,WedgeWood of Olive Branch, The Club at North Creek of Southaven,Mallard Pointe at Sardis, Big Oaks at Saltillo (Tupelo), Carolineand Whisper Lake at Madison, Patrick Farms at Jackson, Canebrakeand Timberton in Hattiesburg, Beau Pre’ in Natchez, Windance inGulfport, The Oaks at Pass Christian and The Bridges at Bay St.Louis.

“We want to include the best that Mississippi can offer andassure members that there will be variety, playability andaffordability,” said Kelly.

Additional information can be found atwww.magnoliagolftrail.com