Clear evidence of that will come on July 15, when it celebrates its 60th anniversary.
''To keep something going for that long and to be pretty successful at it is something we are proud of,'' said Elms General Manager and tournament director Tony Mastrianni. ''We're an independent course. We don't have a big organization behind us. We do it ourselves.
''We try to take care of people and I think that is reflected in us being able to go on for that long.''
Of course, it also helps that the event bills itself as ''the richest one-day tournament in Ohio.''
It is hard to verify that claim, but there is no doubt that the first-prize money of $5,000 for the winner of the professional division is rarified air. The first-place winnings in the other divisions — Senior Pro ($1,000), Amateur ($750 in merchandise) and Senior Amateur ($400 in merchandise) — also are noteworthy.
''It has always paid good money, even in the '60s, '70s and '80s. It got up to $3,000 for a long time and it has been $5,000 for a decent number of years,'' Mastrianni said. ''When the money is out there and it's a little more significant than others, I know that's a big factor in bringing players in. From what I hear from the guys, to put up $160 and have a chance to win $5,000 is a good value.''
With that much money available, the field is always impressive. So, logically, the list of past champions is also impressive.
Among the past winners are Don Nist, Martin Roesink, Tim Conley, Gary Trivisonno, Gary Rusnak, Harry Toscano, Jack Steinicke and Brian Unk.
''When you look at the winners, there have been guys who were on the PGA Tour, European Tour, Senior Tour, Canadian Tour, Nike Tour, Nationwide Tour, Hooters Tour,'' Mastrianni said. ''Their pedigrees have been pretty good.
''When players sign up, they know it is going to be a good field and a good payout and that to win it, you are going to have to beat a lot of good guys.''
In 60 years, there have been stories of grandeur and heartbreak.
Both of those happened in 1991 to Scott DeMuesy, who now runs the Fairways of Arrowhead in North Canton.
That year, DeMuesy was in the first group off and shot a 63, which was both a tournament and course record. He then left for the day, and his score held up and held up. In the early evening, he was confident of victory.
However, he got two phone calls from friends saying someone had shot a 62. He did not believe it.
''I figured my friends were playing a joke on me. I said, 'No way,' and I hung up on them,'' DeMuesy said.
However, official word came soon afterward that Toscano had carded a winning score of 62, and DeMuesy was second at 63.
''When I posted that score, I felt I was in good shape. He [Toscano] was the last guy in. So I had the records for about half a day,'' DeMuesy said. ''The money would have been nice, but I really wanted my name on that trophy. There are a lot of great names on it.''
Then there was 2003, when heavy rains canceled the tournament for the only time in its history, dating back to the first one in 1951.
''That was a freak. There was about three inches of rain. There was no way we were going to be able to get it in,'' Mastrianni said. ''A few guys got in four or five holes when the rain started at about 9 o'clock. It never stopped. That was an aberration.''
The 2011 tournament is expected to have a field of about 200 players, spread throughout the four divisions.
The entry deadline is Monday, July 11. For details, call 330-833-2668.
Armour playing well
Ryan Armour, a former Silver Lake resident and Walsh Jesuit state champion, is having a productive season on the Nationwide Tour.
Armour, 35, has had a tie for second and a tie for fifth this month month on the tour, a developmental circuit run by the PGA Tour.
He tied for second with former Kent State player Jon Mills in the Milwood Prince George County Open at College Park, Md., on June 5. He had a score of 17-under 267 and won $52,800.
On June 12, Armour won $20,075 for finishing in a tie for fifth in the Rex Hospital Open in Raleigh, N.C. He led after the third round and was in a six-way tie for first headed to his final three holes. But he had two closing bogeys and finished with a score of 12-under 272.
Armour is No. 11 on the tour money list with $102,665 as he tries to return to the PGA Tour, where he played in 2007 and 2008.
Three tie for title
Three teams tied for first place last weekend in the Joe Ungvary Sr. Memorial Jumble played at Good Park.
The teams of Dave Trier and Anthony Yacovazzi, Mike Simpson and Jim Kravanek, and Larry Lahnan and Fred Miller had scores of 4-under 67 to lead the 43-team field.
In a jumble format, golfers play six holes each of scramble, better ball and alternative shot.
Ohio Juniors here
A field of 192 players is expected to compete in the Ohio Junior Amateur this week at Windmill Lakes in Portage County.
The golfers will play 18-hole rounds on Tuesday and Wednesday, starting at 8 a.m.
The field is divided into two age groups (15-and-under and 16-18), but the champion can come from either division, because both use the same tees.
The tournament, which was first held in 1939, is being run by the Ohio Golf Association.
Tom Gaffney can be reached at tgaffney@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Zips blog at http://zips.ohio.com.
