Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Lucas Peed hits a chip shot during last year’s county tournament.

We are now less than a week away from the 2024 Fort Dodge Ford Lincoln Toyota Webster County golf tournament.

Players are asked to sign up for the 44th annual event by this Wednesday. The tournament begins on Saturday and concludes on Sunday.

Groups are asked to sign up either by phone or in person at their respective designated courses. Players must pre-pay.

For the first time, a “Legends” Division is being offered on both the men’s and women’s side for players age 70 and older. This will flank the traditional open, senior (age 50-59) and super senior (age 60-69) championship brackets for individual 36-hole stroke play at the Fort Dodge Country Club and Lakeside Golf Courses.

The women’s competition will also feature a new two-person best shot on July 13 at Lakeside. This is an alternative to the individual bracket, which is still being offered. Players would choose which event — the 36-hole individual tournament or the 18-hole best shot tourney — to enter beforehand.

Full Swing Financial Planning of Fort Dodge is sponsoring this year’s closest to the pin contest, which takes place on Saturday. There will be $100 winners at each of the par-3s at the respective courses.

Tee times are in nine-minute increments on the men’s side, beginning at 7:30 a.m. on July 13 at the FDCC. The women start at 8 a.m. at Lakeside on the 13th.

Cost is $85 per player for the 36-hole, two-day tournament, or $40 per player for the women’s two-person best shot.

The championship nine for both the men’s open and senior divisions will be at approximately 5:30 p.m. on July 14 at Lakeside.

All citizens who either live or work in Webster County are invited to participate.

For more information or to sign up for the tournament, please call the FDCC (515-955-8551) or Lakeside (515-576-6741).