NATCHEZ — For several decades, the Harvest Club of Natchez has served as a staple in the community.

This weekend, the tradition will continue with the 41st annual Harvest Club open golf tournament at Duncan Park Golf Course.

Participants will take part in a practice round Friday before testing their skills in a 36-hole tournament Saturday and Sunday.

“We’ve had some really good success with the tournament in the past,” tournament director K.G. Watkins said. “It’s something that means a lot to these guys in this club, reaching out to the kids in the community.”

Watkins said the Harvest Club has been around since the early 1970s and was established by members such as Charles Gaines, Robert Henderson and Albert Clark.

Watkins has served as a member of the club for the past 28 years.

“It was a group of golfers that tried to help African-American youth by teaching them the game of golf,” Watkins said. “We wanted to reach out to kids in the community and give them another alternative.”

Watkins also noted the club’s local outreach, providing college tuition and scholarships through the tournament.

“Over the years, we have sponsored kids though the different schools around (the area),” Watkins said. “We’ve given out scholarships and we’ve backed kids heading to college.”

Watkins said there is plenty to be taken from the game of golf, particularly learning life lessons.

“You give a kid an opportunity see things other than what he’s seen on TV,” Watkins said. “When you’re on a golf course, you have to become social with other people. Golf is a game of integrity  — you play by the rules.”

The Ferriday High School boys basketball coach also noted the game of golf provides an avenue to establishing relationship that can be served down the road.

“You can play golf forever and some of the relationships you encounter on the course, they can become important,” he said. “And that is good thing.”

Saturday’s action will tee off at 9 a.m. with a shotgun start.

For more information or to get involved, contact Watkins at gsusigma@yahoo.com or Duncan Park golf course.