National Putt-Putt Golf Tournament to be Held at Orange Lake Resort
For the fourth time, Orange Lake Resort will be hosting the Professional Putters Association (PPA) Championship Putt-Putt® Golf tournament, this year under their new timeshare brand, Holiday Inn Club Vacations. The 12-round event will take place from September 14-19 at the resort’s 36-hole championship Putt-Putt Golf course, the only course of its kind in the Central Florida area built for Putt-Putt tournament play.
Recognized by such publications as Sports Illustrated, USA Today, Life Magazine, the Washington Post and Golf Digest—and featured on shows including The TODAY Show and the Jay Thomas Show on Sirius Satellite Radio—the PPA is celebrating their 50th annual tournament this year with a special event. More than 80 active and former members of the PPA from across the United States, going back in membership since 1959, will join together prior to the national championship to revisit the game with old friends and play a reunion tournament.
Special guests playing in the 50th anniversary championship tournament include Adam Samhel of Huffman, Texas—once ranked as the #2 amateur Putt-Putter in the state. Samhel’s challenge in Putt-Putt is beyond the game itself, as he plays the game with a walker due to his cerebral palsy. Last year, Adam won the Amateur Division of the Texas State Qualifying tournament and in 2007 won the National APA Sportsmanship Award. Also vying for the championship title will be 14-year-old Czechoslovakian mini-golf sensation Olivia Prokopova, who’s currently ranked in the world’s top 10 female mini-golfers.
"We’re thrilled to celebrate this milestone for the Professional Putters Association here with our players and their families and to welcome this year’s special guests,” said Joe Aboid, Professional Putters Association Commissioner.” “Orange Lake is the ideal place for our reunion and a great way to celebrate the spirit of Putt-Putt golf with those who love—and live—the game.”
For tournament information and sponsorship opportunities for the PPA National Championship Putt-Putt Golf tournament, contact Joe Aboid at 434-237-7888 or joe@forthefunofit.com. Complete information on PPA and on the upcoming tournament can be found at www.proputters.com.
