Parents, children enjoy tourney
FARMINGTON – The Kidz Zone returned to the PGA Tour’s 84 Lumber Classic for a second year, this year bringing sponsors with it, to provide both parents and kids the opportunity to enjoy the golf tournament to its fullest. At the Kidz Zone, located near the tournament’s main entrance, children ages 4-12 can enjoy games, puzzles, crafts and other special activities such as the adorable cow puppet, Ms. Udderly, as brought to the tournament through Kidz Zone sponsors Schneider’s Supreme Dairy Products and Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association. Sponsor representatives were passing out milk and cookies, coloring books and pencils to visitors on Friday.
Counselors also are on-hand to entertain and assist children. Parents who bring their children to the Kidz Zone are equipped with walkie-talkies to allow them to check on their child or become informed of when their child is ready to for pick up.
Sheri Fruhwirth, recreation manager at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, said the Kidz Zone is an extension of the resort’s Kidz Klub.
She added that the play area is a place for children to unwind after, perhaps, getting the players autographs and watching a hole of golf with their parents. It gives parents the chance to further explore the tournament and all it has to offer, possibly walking to catch a glimpse of that famous golfer, she said.
As an added safety precaution, parents are asked to submit a form of identification at pick up and drop off, noted Fruhwirth.
“We make safety of primary importance,” Fruhwirth said, adding that about five to six people staff the site each day and about 10 to 15 kids come through on weekdays, while that number more than doubles on the weekends.
The Kidz Zone will operate from 9 a.m. until the end of play, possibly 6 or 7 p.m., all weekend. There is a small fee for parents to register their children, while pagers will be provided at no extra charge.