| Golfers await their turn to tee-off at the 1A state tournament at Carbon Country Club golf course on Wednesday. |
The 1A golf crowd left yesterday and it has been a week since 2A baseball descended on Carbon County.
However, the two groups did leave something behind to remember them by: money.
Athletic activities such as high school state games, club tournaments and other recreational events bring more to the area than something to do on the weekend.
Out-of-town visitors purchase meals, gas, lodging and other traveling needs, in addition to spending money at local ballparks, arenas or courses.
Seeing the area through an organized event like a state tournament can also encourage players or their family members to return to southeastern Utah to take advantage of the many outdoor activities.
According to Carbon Country Club golf course pro Tom King, several teams have been in the area for the past two weeks, playing practice rounds and testing the course for the May 11 and 12 competition.
“Any time you get exposure like this, people are gonna like it and come back,” King pointed out.
Seventy-seven players participated in the 1A tournament in total, along with coaches and friends and family.
Because the players had the course tied up for a large part of two days, modifications had to be made to a few local golfing program schedules.
However, King pointed out that in the long term, the more people that frequent the course, the better the facility can be made for area golfers.
King said he will be pushing to get other tournaments to the Carbon Country Club in the future.
The 107th Utah State Amateur qualifier will take place here in the upcoming months, as well as the regional qualifier.
King is also looking to bring other high school classifications to Carbon, such as 3A, 4A or 5A.
Golf isn’t the only sport bringing people to Carbon, either.
According to Helper American Legion coach Jeff Cisneros, the Utah High School Activity Association is considering Carbon as baseball host for the 2005 1A tournament, the 2007 3A tournament and the 2009 2A tournament.
As a result, more of the state of Utah will get the opportunity to experience Carbon County and realize the hidden treasure that lies behind the castle gates.