By NICOLE LOGGINS / Staff Writer

COLUMBIANA – Shelby Elementary will be hosting its First Annual Glow Golf Tournament March 16 at Magnolia Meadows in Columbiana. The tournament will begin at 6 p.m.

Tyler Rollin, golf coach at Shelby County High School and teacher at Shelby Elementary, organized the event in an effort to host a tournament that wouldn’t compete with a standard golf tournament.

“I wanted to do something different and we’re going to try to do it every year from here on out,” Rollin said. “I spoke with the people at Magnolia Meadows. They loved the idea.”

The golf tournament will be a two-man scramble format and players will tee off with glow-in-the-dark golf balls and glowing necklaces. The course will be lined with glow sticks to direct golfers towards the holes, which will also be glowing.

“This is one of the only 18-hole glow golf tournaments in Alabama for the same price as a 9-hole tournament,” Rollin said.

Edwin Watts Golf has donated prizes for the first, second and third place team winners.

The tournament will only host 52 participants and the deadline for players to register is March 2. Registration forms are available at Magnolia Meadows golf course and at Shelby Elementary.

According to Rollin, the best way to register is to contact him directly at Trollin@shelbyed.k12.al.us or at 682-6562.

For one adult the price of registration is $65, for students the cost is $50 and for a team of two adults the cost is $110. The fee includes a meal, glow necklace, two glow balls and a $10 gift certificate to Golfsmith. Event T-shirts will also be available for purchase at the event.

“I’m passionate about golf, I love golf. I’m a huge advocate of the game,” Rollin said. “It’s a great way to raise money for our school.”

Rollin also said he would like to make the tournament a family event with activities for all ages in the future.

“Our PTO graciously supports us in this endeavor and is hosting our first annual Glow Golf tournament in an effort to raise more funds to support our enrichment programs,” said Shelby Elementary principal, Stacey Aderholt.

“We are grateful for the support we receive from not only our PTO, but also from our community and appreciate all they have done to help us,” she said.