In between the British Open and Zach Johnson’s first pro-am golf event at Elmcrest on Aug. 1, I would like to remind golf aficionados in the area that the 13th Annual Greater Cedar Rapids Open will return to Hunters Ridge next week. The pro-am will be held Thursday and the three rounds of golf for a $20,000 first prize will be competed on July 22-24.

The annual Waterloo Open ends Sunday and many of those pros will be journeying to Marion for our annual event. In fact, we’re looking for a record professional field since 95 pros have already signed up. And that includes Andy Winnings of Brownsburg, Ind., who is the defending champion.

Also, Brown Deer’s head pro, Sean McCarty, a former champ, will return. And there is every indication that Marc Gladson, the son of Elmcrest pro Larry Gladson, will be in the field. Marc, who attended Linn-Mar and had an excellent high school career, is now a graduate of Wake Forest and has been playing on the South Carolina/Eastern Seaboard tours as a pro.

And of course, Gladson’s goal is like that of Zach Johnson, who came through the Nationwide Tour and made it big-time on golf’s worldwide stage.

The amateur ranks will be enhanced by former winner J.D. Schlotterback of Marion and Darin Pint, the golf coach at Kirkwood Community College who runs an excellent program.

For spectators who want to see outstanding golf on a very challenging layout, a visit to Hunters Ridge for the tournament would be rewarding. And the price is right. It’s all free.