MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. — One of the area’s longest running annual golf tournaments will continue its impressive run in Milledgeville next weekend.

The Ray Rice, Sr. Memorial Georgia Amputee Golf Tournament is scheduled to take place next weekend, July 13-15, at Little Fishing Creek with about 40 amputee golfers expected to attend the 25th annual event. Play begins Friday afternoon with a friends and family scramble, and the amputees will take to the local public course Saturday for the start of the two-day tournament where a champion will be crowned and two college scholarships will be awarded. 

Ray Rice, Sr. became an amputee after losing his leg in a hunting accident when he was 17 years old, and played a role in creating the Georgia Amputee Golf Tournament back in the 1960s in Warm Springs, Ga. The event was held there until 1987 when he passed away. A few years after Rice’s family decided to revive the tournament as a tribute to his life. 

Bill Eason worked as a health professional in Warm Springs in the ‘70s and is a longtime friend of the Rice family. Eason later moved his business to Milledgeville, and figured what was then the Milledgeville Country Club would be a good site to host the newly-revived tournament. Although the event has bounced around between the two local courses throughout its years, the Ray Rice, Sr. Memorial has always been held in Milledgeville since Eason has coordinated it. Each year it draws amputees as well as their family members and friends (around 100 total) to the area for what Eason describes as a reunion-type atmosphere. The event coordinator said golfers from 11 to 80 years old hailing from Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Indiana are all expected to be in attendance for the 25th annual tournament. 

“It feels good,” Eason said when asked how it feels for the tournament to have reached the quarter century mark, “I’m glad that we’ve survived 25 years. If you go back and look we’re probably the oldest running golf tournament in this area besides possibly the Cherry Blossom tournament that’s held in Macon every year. I feel good about that.”

Of course for an event to continue running as long as the Georgia Amputee Golf Tournament has support from the local community is vital. Eason said no matter which site the event is held those who come always feel welcome as shown by the amount who return each year. Many local businesses as sponsors and individuals, such as Dave Franklin and Jimmy Wilson who were instrumental in getting the tournament off the ground, have played a big role in that.

“We certainly appreciate the community support we’ve received over the last 25 years,” Eason said. “Anybody or anything that’s done for us and the amputee golf tournament is greatly appreciated.”

Each year a college scholarship is given either to an amputee or an immediate family member of an amputee, but the event coordinator has something extra planned for the tournament’s milestone year.

“We’re going to do two scholarships this year just to honor the 25th,” he said.

To compete in the Georgia Amputee Golf Tournament, athletes must have an amputation of a major joint. 

The 25th Ray Rice, Sr. Memorial Georgia Amputee Golf Tournament tees off Friday, July 13 at Little Fishing Creek Golf Course at 12:30 p.m.