Get your golf clubs ready. Tickets are on sale for the Fifth Annual Austin Public Education Golf Event, which is scheduled for July 15.

According to Jim Snee, a committee member for the APE Golf Event, the funds raised by the golf outing are used to fund grants for projects at the Austin public schools. For the 2002-03 school year, almost $25,000 was granted for various projects, including an adjustable basketball hoop at Banfield Elementary School, 100 novels for Austin High School, a TV and VCR for Kids Korner and electric keyboards for the music classes at all the elementary schools.

Last year, the golf outing raised $10,000 for the foundation.

Peggy Benzkofer, executive director of the APE says the event is &uot;open to everyone who wants to participate,&uot; though it is limited to 144 people. &uot;If you register before June 15, tickets will cost $65, but after that, they’re $75. That fee includes lunch and dinner and we have some really nice prizes, too.&uot;

Benzkofer and Snee advise people to register early because tickets for the event usually sell out quickly.

&uot;There’s a lot of pride and competition in this event,&uot; Snee says. &uot;A lot of Austin graduates take part in it and are very competitive … they’re out there to win.&uot;

For more information about the APE Golf Event, call 433-0433.

Call Amanda L. Rohde at 434-2214 or e-mail her at amanda.rohde@austindailyherald.com