By Tom Johnston tjohnston@qconline.com

More photos from this shoot

Photo: Gary Krambeck Quad City Amateur Tour Player of the Year winner Dusty Drenth of Davenport makes his chip shot onto the 18th green at TPC Deere Run during the final round on Sunday August 24th.

More photos from this shoot

Photo: Gary Krambeck Quad City Amateur Tour Player of the Year winner Dusty Drenth of Davenport with his trophy.

More photos from this shoot

Photo: Gary Krambeck Quad City Amateur golf tour's, Tour Champion Ben Peters of Bettendorf with his trophy award after winning in a sudden death playoff at TPC Deere Run on Sunday August 24th.

Picture the most famous armed services recruiting poster. Uncle Sam, fierce scowl on his face, pointing right off the poster board and seemingly staring directly at you and saying, "I want you for the U.S. Army.''

Now, exchange the blue and white top hat for a golf visor, the blue tux jacket for a polo shirt and the finger for a 5-iron. The words could read"I want you for the Quad-City Amateur Tour.''

While officials of the Quad-Cities only official amateur golf circuit haven't gone quite that far to desecrate an American icon, they still are searching for ways to expand the xx-year-old golf circuit. And they need a recruiting tool just as successful as that 90-year-old American icon.

"The tour was basically developed so that we could have a good playing format -- good tournament format -- in an area of 300,000 to 350,000 people,'' said Dave Holmes, 2009 chairman of the volunteer board of directors. "Instead of people having to travel so far to get into a good-sized tournament, you can find it here in the Quad-Cities.''

And while the QCAm Tour provides a great place to play for the QC area's top amateur golfers, the circuit seemingly has stagnated when it comes to growth. Numbering about 100 players the past few years, it continues to struggle expanding the fields for its seven regular-season events.

"It's a great tour,'' said Ben Peters during his terrific summer of 2007 when he came out of semi-retirement to win player of the year honors. "This is great for any golfer wanting to play competitive golf. I'm glad it's around and that I can play in it.''

The problem is, new blood has been hard to find. Some very good golfers who should be playing the tour may be shying away because they are intimidated by tournament golf. Other players may be enjoying their comfort zone playing in their weekend games at the clubs.

"It's something anyone can be part of and should be part of,'' said Chris Wilkins, a long-time board member and player who helped keep the circuit afloat in its leaner years. "I know there are a lot of guys out there who should be playing and we'd love to have them join us.''

With a schedule that features great venues and plenty of incentives -- numerous gift-certificate payouts for flighted play -- the QCAm Tour is enticing for local golfers. But maybe the biggest benefit of the 501(c)3 is that thousands of dollars each year are funneled through it and given back in charitable contributions to deserving local non-profits. Over the last five years, the QCAm Tour has donated $43,100 to local charities. Much of that money has gone to help programs geared around the well-being of children. Many of those dollars come from corporate sponsorships, ranging from title sponsor Wells Fargo Bank to numerous hole sponsors.

"It's not just all about golf,'' says Holmes of the contributions.

"For a lot of the guys, that's why we play; it's an easy venue to raise money that benefits community charities,'' Wilkins said.

It really is an entity that has many faces -- some that include plenty of smiles at post-round gatherings as the camaraderie is also a QCAm Tour calling card.

The QCAm Tour is open to all amateur golfers. It is comprised of seven weekly events (usually two-day/36-hole tournaments) and two majors at the end of the season. Those are the Tour Championship for the top 30 season-point winners and the Hasley Cup -- the QCAm Tour's version of the Ryder Cup -- that pits the top golfers from the Illinois side vs. the top players from Iowa.

"Guys like to compete and like the camaraderie,'' Wilkins said. "As much as anything, it's fun. ... It's good for the community and we feel as if the community is lucky to have it.''