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Tournament continues to expand

By Times Staff
Published September 29, 2005

When Kisko Golf Wholesale opened in 1989, it was operated from a shack at a now-defunct driving range. It was run by one man, Paul Kisko , and one man only, and he worked only on fixing and customizing golf clubs.

Now, 17 years later, Kisko has upgraded from shack to sharp, with his company now at 4525 Mile Stretch Drive, Holiday.

Kisko Golf is now a fully functional golf shop with golf accessories in addition to customizing and repairing.

Kisko has worked his magic for many Pasco County courses as well as for several members of the PGA Champions and LPGA tours.

If that isn't growth enough, figure in that on Oct.23, Kisko Golf is having its Ninth Annual Kisko Golf Open. For the first time, the tournament will be at Kisko's home course, SummerTree.

After years of bouncing from course to course, Kisko figured to have the scramble at the one he bought six years ago. SummerTree Golf Course, 11816 Paradise Pointe Way, New Port Richey, is part of the SummerTree subdivision, a 55-plus community 2 miles east of Little Road.

The tournament, which is a two-man scramble, is $40 per player and includes 18 holes, a post-round dinner and a prize for every participant. A skins game will coincide with the tournament, which has a shotgun start set for noon. The handicap of both players combined must be at least 15.

"We'd like to keep it fair for all players," tournament director Kendhal Maxwell said.

The tournament also features longest drive and closest-to-the-pin competitions, which will feature cash prizes. Both start at 10:30 a.m.

"We will not profit at all from the longest drive or closest-to-the-pin competitions," Maxwell said. "All of that money is going back to the players. That amount, however, will depend on the amount of players. So the more people that participate, the bigger the pot."

Maxwell said SummerTree has improved vastly since Kisko bought it in November 1999. There have been several improvements, including "modifications to holes, refurbished greens and improvements to the course's conditions."

Despite the course's location in a retirement community, Maxwell said children of all ages and players of all abilities are welcome, and children receive discounts.

CORRECTION: Bob Tiller , co-owner of Full Circle Financial, LLC, will be competing in a half-triathlon (13.1-mile run, 56-mile bike ride and a 1.2-mile run) in November's fund-raiser for the Trikes for Tykes program. An incorrect event was listed in last week's notebook. For more information, call Kisko Golf at (727) 938-9697.

--What's going on at your golf course? Contact Times correspondent Mike Tompkins at 813 431-4812 or e-mail at MTompkins61@yahoo.com

[Last modified September 29, 2005, 01:19:16]