• Kids’ Fishing Workshop: Children aged 7 to 15 can learn to fish with the best anglers around at the Cachuma Lake Nature Center on July 23. Children will learn basic fishing skills; knot tying; casting; trout fishing; rigging for bass, crappie, and blue gill; and salt-water fishing, from 8:45 a.m. to noon. Registration is free. For more information, call 693-0691 or e-mail julie@clnaturecenter.org.
• Free Swim Days: Free swimming at Paul Nelson Aquatic Center in Santa Maria is July 24 and Aug. 28. Times are available from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. It’s for all ages, but children 5 and younger must be accompanied by an adult. For more information, call the Recreation and Parks Department at 925-0951, Ext. 260.
• Santa Maria Valley Men’s Amateur Golf Tournament: An annual amateur golf championship held at Rancho Maria Golf Course in Santa Maria is July 30 and 31. The 36-hole, stroke-play tournament starts at 8 a.m. on July 30; Day 2 begins with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. The entry fee is $175 before July 21, and $200 thereafter. Players must be 18 or older and have a valid card or play at scratch. Entries close on July 26. For more information, call 937-2019 or visit ranchomariagolf.com to register.
• Disc Golf tournament: Disc golfers will seek to earn a spot in the 2011 United States Disc Golf Championship at the Professional Disc Golf Association’s Santa Maria Open July 29 to 31 at Waller County Park. The top 10 golfers at the Region 4 qualifying tournament will receive invites to the championships, which take place in Rock Hill, S.C., from Oct. 5 to 8. For more information, visit pdga.com.
• Bertka ‘Speaks’: Former Los Angeles Lakers and Allan Hancock College coach Bill Bertka will be the featured guest speaker at “The Valley Speaks” event on July 30 at the Santa Maria Public Library. The free event takes place in Shepard Hall from 11 a.m. to noon. For more information, call the Historical Society Museum at 922-3130.
Sports Shorts is compiled by Staff Writer Jeremy Thomas. Information should be sent to the Sun via fax, e-mail, or mail.
This article appears in Jul 21-28, 2011.