PGA Golf

Going green at Colonial

Officials at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial have adopted a new, "green gate" charitable program that will benefit Streams & Valleys, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the recreational use of the Trinity River.

The idea is to encourage fans to leave their cars behind and bicycle, walk, ride the bus or ride the train to Colonial during tournament week (May 22-25). Because the Colonial property runs along the Trinity Trail, tournament officials are encouraging fans to go "green" and find an alternate mode of transportation to get to the course during weekend rounds (May 24-25). A "green gate" will be set up near Colonial's fourth hole, along Rogers Road, with secured racks for bicycles or kayaks.

For each fan that uses the Trinity Trail to attend weekend rounds, tournament officials will donate $10 to Streams & Valleys. Fans can trigger the donation by checking in at the "green gate," where there will be a Streams & Valleys tent, and receiving a rubber wristband with the message "See You On the River."

In addition, Fort Worth's mass-transit service, The T, will provide special non-stop bus service to Colonial from the T&P Station in downtown Fort Worth. The T&P station is a hub for the TRE commuter rail, which runs from Fort Worth to Dallas.

TRE train riders will pay $5 from Dallas County or $3 from Tarrant County, which includes the round-trip bus ride to the tournament.  Fans who opt to drive and park at the T&P Station can ride the Colonial express bus for $3.

_ Jimmy Burch