The VSGA and RGA have eliminated the printed forms you could pick up in the golf shop or by mail. Now, competitors will need to download the forms from the organizations' Web sites: www.vsga.org or www.RGAweb.org. Print the form, then the process is the same as in the past. Fill in the information and mail it, along with the entry fee, to the VSGA or to the RGA representative listed for the tournament.

Entry forms for all the VSGA-conducted events are on line in PDF form. Entry forms for the RGA's Two-Man Championship and Senior Championship currently are available on the Web site.

SEASON OPENER: The RGA Two-Man is April 12 at Independence Golf Club, the VSGA Foundation's home for golf in Midlothian. There are shotgun starts at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m., and the tournament includes a senior division. Seniors (50 and over) play a shorter yardage and aren't eligible for the overall title.

The Masters and Grand Masters Championship is for players 65 years of age and older and will be played July 10-11 at one to the top new courses in the commonwealth, Spring Creek Golf Club in Gordonsville.

WHERE THE 'MAJORS' ARE: The men's State Amateur makes its first appearance at the Lowes Island Club in Potomac Falls. The club's Island Course, designed by Tom Fazio, is the venue June 27 to July 1. The club's River Course was the site of the State Open in 2002.

The SunTrust State Open has the usual July date (19-22), but it has moved from Willow Oaks Country Club to Independence because Willow Oaks in undergoing a multimillion dollar face-lift.

The State Senior Open (ages 50 and over) returns to the Country Club of Virginia's Westhampton Course for the second edition Sept. 20-21. Unlike last year's inaugural event, non-exempt amateurs must go through zone qualifying to make the field. The State Senior Amateur (55 and over) is back at The Homestead's Cascades and Old courses Aug. 27-31.

The women's State Amateur is July 9-13 at the Country Club of Virginia's James River Course. The Senior Women (50 and older) gather at The Homestead on July 30-Aug. 3.

The State Junior Boys is at Kingsmill Resort's Woods Course on July 31-Aug. 2, and the Junior Boys Match Play event is June 20-23 at the River Creek Club in Leesburg. Independence is the venue for the State Junior Girls on Aug. 8-9. The age limit is 18 and under for junior events.

The VSGA Foundation initiated the program to show its support of high school golf. The 36-hole tournament, set for Aug. 21-22, comes during the high school regular season. The field will consist of 20 teams (five players per team). The top five teams from the 2006 Virginia High School League's Group AAA, AA and A state tournaments and five independent (private) schools will be invited. Some individuals, including girls, not on one of the teams will be invited as well.

The Foundation also said Independence would be available to all high school teams in the commonwealth for practice in August and September. Two consecutive starting times will be set aside each afternoon Monday through Friday beginning Aug. 1.

Schools are limited to one practice per week, and starting times are reserved on a first-come, first-serve basis. Schools that haven't been to the club will have priority on the times. The practice facilities, unlimited range balls and access to the Sawyer Short Course are included.

Schools outside the greater Richmond area can use the Sawyer Center dormitories (where campers in the Robins Junior programs stay) for overnight lodging at a minimal fee.

UNDER CONSTRUCTION: The City of Petersburg has begun renovation of the former Lee Park Golf Course located across the street from Petersburg High School.

The original course, designed by Fred Findlay (front nine) and Algie Pulley (back), sustained major damage from Hurricane Isabel in 2003 and closed.

Another renowned architect, Tom Clark, is overseeing the complete makeover. Clark, who steered the recent renovations to Hanover Country Club, has been involved with the re-dos of other municipal courses such as Bide-A-Wee in Portsmouth and Sleepy Hole in Suffolk.

The new Petersburg layout, which will have a new name, will stretch to 6,700 yards (the maximum yardage on the original was just over 6,000 yards). Greens fees are projected to be around $30. Depending on the weather, the course could open this fall.

Clark also is involved, along with Nicklaus Design, in creating an 18-hole course that will be part of the Magnolia Green resort-style new homes community located at the intersection of Hull Street and Otterdale roads in western Chesterfield County. The course initially will be open to public. Construction is expected to begin this summer with the opening scheduled for fall 2009.

CHIP SHOTS: Jeffrey Cornwell has been named head professional at Hanover Country Club. Cornwell has been an assistant at Hermitage Country Club the past six years. He is a graduate of the professional golf management program at Methodist College in Fayetteville, N.C., and is coming to Hanover just as it is ready to open its refurbished course. The renovations include new greens and bunkers on all 18 holes, the addition of a practice facility and range and 10 holes that have been rerouted or are new. . . .

Michael Swope and Lyberty Anderson won winter events on the Plantation Junior Golf Tour. Anderson won the girls 8-11 age group at Finley Golf Course in Chapel Hill, N.C. Swope, who plays for Thomas Dale, won the boys 14-15 at Wintergreen's Stoney Creek course. . . .

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