The Nebraska School Activities Association has awarded the community of North Platte the Class D Boys State Golf Championship for the years 2018, 2019 and 2020. North Platte has previously hosted the tournament in 2016 and 2017.
Visitors Bureau staff Courtney Fegter submitted the bid online to the NSAA Board of Directors. According to Fegter, Sports Tourism Specialist with the North Platte / Lincoln County Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Championships will be played at Lake Maloney Golf Course.
“The community of North Platte and host course Lake Maloney Golf Club received high accolades from coaches and competitors in the past two tournaments we hosted,” says Fegter. “The enthusiasm and professionalism of our volunteers, and the well-run golf course all helped to convince the NSAA to award the tournament to North Platte for the next three years.”
Just under 100 competitors participated in the championship tournaments in 2016 and 2017. Class D, which is comprised of the smallest schools with boys’ golf programs, many located in out-state Nebraska, traditionally travels very well. Many fans, friends and family make the trip to North Platte to watch the competition. Based on a formula provided by the National Association of Sports Commissions, the participants and their followers account for an estimated $40,000 in direct travel spending in North Platte each year.
Lisa Burke, Executive Director of the Visitors Bureau said, “This tournament kicks off at the perfect time of year, when the peak summer travel season is just beginning. Attracting hundreds of additional visitors to our community, for two or three days in May, benefits our retail shops, service stations, restaurants and lodging. The money the visitors spend is respent a number of times throughout North Platte, benefiting the entire community.”
In addition to the award of the Class D championship to North Platte, the NSAA awarded Class A to Norfolk and Class B to Columbus, and Class C to Kearney. North Platte had previously been awarded the Class C Girls State Golf Championships for the years 2017 – 2019, after having hosted the October tournament in 2015 and 2016.