By JESSA PEASE / Staff Writer

PELHAM— The first Saturday of December, Ballantrae Golf Club always hosts the Jingle Bell Best Ball Classic Tournament to give its member a way to kick off the Christmas month.

This year’s tournament will take place Saturday, Dec. 5. The entry fee is $37 for members and $83 for guests. Entry includes the cart fee, green fee for guests, closest to the pin prizes and prizes for the gross and net winning teams.

“It’s to promote the season, and it’s in December so we can give it the different name,” said James Helton with Ballantrae Golf Club. “They enjoy it and it’s pretty competitive.”

The format of the tournament is two-person best ball where each player plays his or her own ball until the ball is holed out. The team’s score will be based on the best score of the two players on each hole.

Men will play from the III tees, seniors age 60 and older may play from the IV tees and ladies will play from the V tees.

“I think so and this is just a little way to get more participation,” Helton said. “It’s mostly for members, but guests can also do it.”

Helton said they usually have a good turnout for the Jingle Bell Best Ball tournament, having between 10 and 20 teams of two.

Players must have a USGA handicap or have played in five Ballantrae Dogfights. If a player does not have a USGA handicap or has not played in five Ballantrae Dogfights, his or her handicap will be set at zero.

Members may book tee times 12 days in advance and guests may book tee times five day in advance. Call the golf shop at 620-4653 to book your tee time.

For more information, visit Ballantraegolf.com.