So you're dying to play Roanoke's newest golf course, Ballyhack Golf Club?

No problem. Simply sign up to play in July's 75th Roanoke Valley Match Play Championship.

Male golfers in the area will be afforded what could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play the exclusive course that has quickly drawn national acclaim when the valley's oldest tournament is contested July 15-17.

"Exactly, this is the chance," tournament committee chairman Miller Baber said. "And we're talking about a real good deal."

The tournament entry fee of $135 will guarantee a contestant of at least two rounds of golf -- a pretournament practice round and at least one round of qualifying or match play. That's less than 50 percent off the price tag it would normally cost to play two rounds at the par-72 links course.

"It's a links, Scottish Highlands-type golf course with real wide fairways with a lot of bump and run, no trees ... so different than other places you play around Roanoke where you carry [the ball] in the air all the time," Baber said. "The other big difference is it's very well conditioned and visually challenging off the tee, a lot of stuff that plays with your mind, so to speak."

Baber is hoping the intrigue of Ballyhack can lure from 150 to 200 entries for a field that will include four age divisions: Open (all ages); Senior (55 and up); Master (65 and up); and Grand Master (70 and up).

Entry applications can be found at the tournament's Web site -- www.roanokevalleymatchplay.com -- starting Feb. 1.

Middle schoolers' shot

Baber, whose long list of contributions to area golf continues to expand, also announced plans to launch a golf program for the valley's middle schools.

The program, which is being sponsored by The First Tee, will include four tournaments in March at Roanoke Country Club, Hidden Valley and Hanging Rock.

"I've got all the principals and athletic directors coming in next week so I can explain what this is, and, hopefully, get them to submit a team or individuals who want to play," Baber said.

"I want to help the high school systems get players acclimated to golf, and I want to give girls an opportunity to play because they don't really have an opportunity in high school."

End of the line?

Bobby Penn, a winner of five Roanoke Valley majors, says his golf days may be permanently bagged because of chronic back problems.

"I couldn't play right now if I wanted to," said Penn, 49, who has won three Roanoke Valley Hall of Fame titles, a pair of Match Play titles, plus the 1977 state junior crown.

"I've got a lot of pain in my lower back because there's not much left to some of the discs."

It's disappointing news for his close friend and longtime adversary, Baber.

"I hope he gets better," Baber said.

"I would hate for him to not be able to compete anymore. It would be a big blow to him, the area, all of those things."

Hubbard takes crown

Roanoke's John Hubbard recently was crowned the 2009 overall points winner on the Roanoke Valley Senior Golf Tour.

Hubbard, who won the title in 2007, finished atop the points list among 130 players competing on the nine-event tour.

Garry Mundy finished second, followed by Jim Snidow, Andy Shumate and Raymond Barton.

The fast-growing tour is now accepting applications for the upcoming season that begins in March.

Participants must be 55 or older as of March 23. Visit the tour's Web site -- www.rvsgt.org -- or contact Tommy Firebaugh at 540-977-4686 for applications and additional information.

Sand blasts

Blacksburg's Courtney Ellenbogen finished fifth in the recent Harder Hall Invitational in Sebring, Fla.

The Duke freshman has a 73.75 stroke average so far this season, which ranks second on the Blue Devils' squad.

The Roanoke Valley Golf Hall of Fame will put its 2010 player cards on sale in mid-February.

The cards cost $250 and allow two players to play all the HOF courses.

The proceeds from the cards go into the HOF scholarship awards for area high school and college students.

Scholarship applications are available at the HOF Web site (www.rvghof.org).