Ozark Gateway Tourist Council Announces the 7th Annual Golf Tournament
CHEROKEE VILLAGE, Arkansas (April 21, 2025) – The Ozark Gateway Tourist Council will host the 7th Annual Ozark Gateway Golf Tournament on Saturday, May 17, at the scenic Cherokee Village South Course in Cherokee Village.
The 4-person scramble has become a popular fundraiser for the council, a nonprofit organization that promotes tourism, and relocation in Fulton, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Lawrence, Randolph, Sharp and Stone counties in north-central Arkansas.
Registration opens at 8 a.m., followed by a shotgun start at 9 a.m. The winners will be announced at 3 p.m. Fee is $300 per team, which includes entry into the tournament, breakfast pastries, lunch, and access to various prizes and contests.
“We encourage golfers of all ages and skill levels to come out and enjoy the beauty of the Ozark Gateway region,” said Cathy Drew, executive director of the Ozark Gateway Tourist Council.
Golfers can look forward to special hole contests throughout the day, each offering a $20 prize. The contests are as follows:
Special Contests & Prizes for Golfers
Throughout the tournament, golfers will have the chance to win $20 cash prizes at a variety of on-course contests. Here’s what’s in store on the course:
💰 Hole Contest Prizes – $20 Each
Hole 1: Closest 2nd Shot
Hole 2: Closest to the Pin
Hole 3: Closest 3rd Shot
Hole 4: Longest Putt Made
Hole 5: Longest Drive – Men Under 75
Hole 6: Closest 2nd Shot
Hole 7: Longest Drive – Men 75 & Older
Hole 8.5: Closest to the Pin
Hole 9: Closest 2nd Shot
Hole 10: Longest Putt Made
Hole 11: Closest 2nd Shot
Hole 12: Women’s Longest Drive
Hole 13: Closest to the Pin
Hole 14: Longest Putt Made
Hole 15: Closest 2nd Shot-
Hole 16: Closest to the Pin
Hole 17: Longest “Birdie” Putt Made
Hole 18: Closest 3rd Shot
🏌️ Flight Details
Three Flights – Three Places Each
Ties will be broken via a scorecard playoff starting from a randomly drawn hole number, moving backward.
🎯 Mulligan Rule
Each player receives 1 mulligan to use on any shot.
Mulligans may not be used to win a hole contest.
⛳ Tee Box Assignments
Ladies: Red Tees
Men 75 & Older: Red Tees
Men 60 to 74: Gold Tees
Men 59 & Under: White Tees
💸 Hole-in-One Bonus Prizes below
Hole 2: $5,000 Cash
Males must tee off from at least 165 yards
Females must tee off from at least 150 yards
Hole 8: $500 Gift Card
Hole 13: $500 Gift Card
Hole 16: $500 Gift Card
Eligibility for hole-in-one prizes is based on age and tee box requirements.
35 Golf carts will be available on a first-come, first-served basis and are not included in the entry fee. Please indicate the number of golf carts needed during registration.
To register your team or for more information, please contact Cathy Drew at crdrew@sbcglobal.net or call 800.264.0316.
Cathy Drew is a lifelong resident of the region that she loves to promote. She was born in downtown Batesville in the late ’60s, located in one of the eight counties she now enjoys encouraging people to visit.
Drew became associated with the Ozark Gateway Region in 1990 while working at the ad agency (The Media Market Inc.). The agency handled marketing for the regional association, where she and her co-workers produced an annual tabloid publication. She began working as the Ozark Gateway Region director in June 2000.
After Drew became director, she took the region to the next level by helping the tourism organization create a new website and moved it from the old newspaper paper tabloid publication to a color magazine format. She helped open a visitor center for the Ozark Gateway, allowing visitors to pick up information from the entire state 24/7. Over the years, Drew has helped the organization meet new marketing goals, such as in- and out-of-state marketing, assuring that all 100,000 copies of their magazines are distributed each year.
In 2016, she assisted in creating the first Ozark Gateway Region Golf Classic. The tournament continues to grow each year, allowing the organization to expand its co-op program and helping each county have dedicated promotion. Drew stays busy at Ozark Gateway as the ad sales manager, magazine editor, day-to-day office operations, trade show representative, and magazine distribution representative, all while ensuring that the region is represented all over Arkansas and southern Missouri.
Drew was featured in several local and statewide publications over the years, as well as the 1997 cover of the Ozark Gateway Region tabloid, along with her then 4-year-old son, Jon. She has received several awards, such as the Batesville Rotarian of the Year in 2010 and a three-time Paul Harris Fellow.
She also has served as an Independence County election commissioner for several years. She now serves as their co-election coordinator, helping with behind-the-scenes management of voting equipment, day-to-day election deadlines, and poll worker training.
Drew is Batesville Rotary Club Past President, and is the Rotary Clubs’ current membership chair.
In March of 2018, Drew was honored with induction into the Arkansas Tourism Hall of Fame for her many years of dedicated service to the tourism industry.