NORWICH — The Canasawacta Country Club is gearing up for it's 63rd Annual Member-Guest Golf Tournament. The three-round event is set to begin with practice rounds on Wednesday, August 4. Participants will begin playing in earnest on Thursday, August 5, at 8 a.m.

Canasawacta Country Club General Manager Tim Carson said they have 200 participants registered for the competition this year.

"It's a highly competitive event, and that's what has kind of made it so special and grown throughout the years. And our golf course, we certainly are proud of it," said Carson. "It does attract a lot of good golfers so the level of play is very high."

Participants are signed up as two-person teams, according to Carson. He said the teams shoot 18 holes, and the best score between the two players is recorded as their team score.

"You're taking the best score out of the two players on each hole. So for the two-man team you just have one regular score for 18 holes," said Carson.

Teams are also split into flights based on skill level, Carson said, which leads to the tournament having nine different winners.

"Everybody is put in a group of golfers that is similar in ability. So instead of using the handicap system, we flight them based on what their scores are. So actually there will be nine different winners of the Member-Guest Tournament," Carson explained.

In addition to three full days of golf, Carson said participants will also be invited to daily breakfast, a picnic lunch on Wednesday, and dinner on Thursday and Friday. He said it is important there is emphasis on the social aspects of the tournament as well as the golfing itself.

"We try and include as much social activity as golf activity," said Carson. "We provide them breakfast every morning, and there's a picnic lunch the first day in between rounds so that all the players and their significant others, and even some of them bring their children, are here in between rounds. We get to hang out a lot."

Luckily, COVID-19 restrictions didn't eliminate last year's Member-Guest Tournament entirely, according to Carson. But, he said it did force them to make some modifications that at times were "challenging."

"We had to do a modified form last year. We did spread it out a little differently so there weren't ever any one group of more than 50 people at one place at one time," he explained. "We didn't have as many players, we limited the number. And we didn't do any of the social events on property."

But, with COVID restrictions eased, Carson said this year's tournament is "pretty much business as usual." He said he is happy to have everyone reunited.

"We are very excited to have the crowds back and the people back, not only for the golf but for the events," Carson said. "There's so many teams that have been playing in this event as much as 40 years in a row together, the same two guys. So it creates a bit of a family atmosphere, and a type of reunion for these guys that have so much time together."

Carson also said the Canasawacta Country Club has a new superintendent to maintain the grounds. Chad Cressler has been the superintendent for the past year, and keeps the greens in good condition to ensure golfers have a good time during the tournament.

"Having him with one year under his belt to manage the condition of the entire golf course, but especially the greens and how the course will play to, one, make it fun, enjoyable, and another, make it fair and challenging, is his goal," said Carson.

Last year's tournament winners were Matt Burrell and Craig Dawson, with a score of 200. Second place went to Bob Branham and his son Mike, with a score of 203. Bob Adsit and Dave Cappadonia took third with a score of 204.

This year's Member-Guest Golf Tournament pairings will be published in the Evening Sun Sports section later this week.