POINT PLEASANT, W.Va. - School is out, weather is warm, grasses and greens are trimmed - so it must be time for the Tri-County Junior Golf Tour to tee it up for 2006.

Over the past 20-or-so years, local young linksters have been learning the game of golf while competing with others of similar ages on the four local golf courses in the five-week tour.

Young golfers, male and female, 18 years and under will play nine holes each week at one local course for the coveted weekly Fruth Pharmacy Trophies awarded to the first and second place finisher in each age group. Also, they will be vying for placement points, which determine the age group champions for 2006, and the resultant plaques given in the annual roundup finale.

All local youth in Meigs-Gallia-Mason area, plus surrounding area are eligible and are invited to participate in any, or all, weeks of the tour. Age groups include 15-18, 13-14, 11-12 plus a 10-and-under group. Age is determined by the players' age on date of final regular tour event.

Due to the generosity of Riverside, Cliffside, Pine Hills and Hidden Valley golf courses, the young golfers enjoy an immensely reasonable cost. Each week, the 10 dollar fee includes nine holes of golf, lunch and prizes at the ending roundup.

Each week, the young competitors should be at the course of play by 8:30 a.m. that morning of the event. There will be a 9 a.m. shotgun start. Usually play concludes around noon.

This year, the first event is slated for Monday, June 12 at Hidden valley in Point Pleasant. Then, Monday June 19 it will resume at Pine Hills n Pomeroy. The third event is scheduled for June 26 at Cliffside and then the fourth stop on the tour will be Riverside.