The First Annual Suffolk Amateur Golf Championship will have to tee up a mulligan next year as this year’s attempt at a three-day tournament has been cancelled due to lack of participation.

Nansemond River Golf Club, Suffolk Golf Course, and Sleepy Hole Golf Course were planning for the three-day, three-course event this Friday through Sunday.

Play was going to be divided among each of the three courses on each day, with the tournament beginning at 1 p.m. Friday and continuing Saturday and Sunday mornings.

Had there been enough players, they would’ve been pre-flighted according to handicaps, with each flight winner then winning $750 for first place.

Sleepy Hole’s head professional, Rick Bidnick, is still optimistic that the idea can get off the tee box next year.

&uot;We’re going to do it next year,&uot; said Bidnick, &uot;but there are so many other tournaments that people set their schedule early.&uot;

&uot;We missed the deadline for the tournament schedule when it’s published in the Virginian-Pilot, and if it’s not in there then people make their plans without it,&uot; said Bidnick.

The City of Suffolk and the three courses had hoped to attract about 30 to 50 participants for the inaugural championship.

andrew.giermak@suffolknewsherald.com