STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK
Grab your putters and head for the greens in … well, The Argyros, The Casino, The Cellar Pub and more restaurants and bars around town.
The Ketchum Wide Open returns on Saturday, May 17, and with it a chance to win big for Best Hole, Best Costume and Best Score. Awards will also be given to those who have traveled the farthest to play and the youngest and oldest golfers.
Signups begin at Whiskey’s on Main Street at 11 a.m. The tourney stars at noon with golfers moving among 10 venues, which will greet golfers with their most wacky, creative putting greens. Did we mention you can lower your score by buying a drink?
The tourney ends at 5 p.m. with an Awards and After Party at Whiskey’s on Main beginning at 5:30 p.m. Wally and the Riverdogs will perform a mix of Western country, 1960s rock ‘n roll and Irish punk from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in a live performance at Whiskey’s that’s open to the public.
The band is comprised of Wes Walsworth of Old Death Whisper and the Andy Sheppard Band, Cameron Bouiss from Sheep Bridge Jumpers and Kyle Moore of Sawtooth Shipwreck.
The event benefits the Blaine County Charitable Fund, which helps residents with housing and medical emergencies, and Stella’s Shelter Fund, which works with rescue dogs.
The goofy mini-golf event started a quarter century ago as a way to celebrate slack, and it draws participants from Twin Falls, Boise and Seattle, as well as the valley. Over the years, venues have come up with some creative challenges, including the Sawtooth Club, which had putters putting golf balls into a second-floor chimney where they made their way to the first floor.