WEST VIRGINIA RECORD

CHARLESTON -- The West Virginia Golf Association and golf courses across the Mountain State are offering a special Christmas gift: VIP Cards that allow golfers to play top courses in Virginia and West Virginia at heavily discounted prices.

The VIP Cards allow holders to play more than 200 courses in West Virginia and Virginia. The cards cost $65 and are available online at the WVGA's Web site: www.wvga.org. Spouses can be added to the VIP card for only $50.00. Many exclusive private courses are included. A single VIP card only for West Virginia courses is available for $35.

"We set out to do something that promotes the game of golf in West Virginia," WVGA Executive Director Ken Tackett said. "We have a great golf heritage in the state, and we want to make sure that as many people as possible have an opportunity to take advantage of it."

West Virginia and Virginia are known to have some of the best, most scenic golf courses in the country, ranging from inviting to especially challenging. The cards offer access to courses designed by Robert Trent Jones, Pete Dye, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player, among others.

"We think these cards would make an outstanding Christmas gift," Tackett said. "It's good for the person who loves golf and wants to see the great courses across our state. The fact that we've teamed up with Virginia to offer play at even more courses makes it an even better deal."

Like all sports and hobbies, golf involves some expense for participation. The VIP Cards reduce that expense while opening a variety of courses for play.

"It's also a smart move from our West Virginia courses' perspective," Tackett said. "They want to see people playing golf. And they want people across the state and the nation to understand how special golf is in West Virginia."

Details about the discounts offered at the participating West Virginia courses are available at the WVGA web site, www.wvga.org. Play at most of the West Virginia courses includes free use of a golf cart.

The WVGA is a non-profit organization that promotes golf in West Virginia, provides educational scholarships through its foundation and promotes youth-oriented golf activities.