At age 81, some things become antiques. Then again, some things get better and better. That’s what Dave Salerno said is happening to his golf tournament, the Dixie Amateur.

Salerno, the tournament director, said the Dixie Amateur — which attracts some of the best amateurs from around the globe — is heading into its ninth decade and is definitely alive and swinging away better than ever.

“Our field is full,” Salerno said. “It’s an excellent field, and one of the strongest in the history of the event.”

There will be 240 amateurs competing in the men’s division, representing 19 countries and 32 states.

The tournament will be held at Heron Bay Golf Club in Coral Springs and Woodlands Country Club in Tamarac. The senior men will play Dec. 8-10, the men Dec. 19-22, the senior women Dec. 30-Jan. 1, and the women Dec. 30-Jan. 1.

The tournament is one of the longest-lasting amateur events in sports. That fact makes Salerno feel confident.

“I’ve got my field, and it’s a great field,” he said. “I’ve got 81 years of history and tradition working for me.”

Salerno also has some name power working for him.

Bob Toski, famed golfer, instructor and announcer, will serve as the honorary chairman of this year’s tournament. In addition, Brian Quinn, the renowned golf coach at Temple University, will be chairman of the tournament committee.

“This is a real honor,” said Toski, who was the leading money winner on the PGA Tour in 1954. In his career, Toski won 11 professional tournaments.

“The Dixie Amateur is truly one of the majors of amateur golf,” Toski said. “I know many of the past champions and understand the impact this championship had on their careers.”

Played for the first time in 1924, the Dixie Amateur is ranked 12th in the world among amateur tournaments. There was a hiatus in competition starting in 1953 with the closing of Miami Golf Club.

Winners include Frank Strafaci, Al Besselink, and Doug Ford. In more recent years, Hal Sutton, Brandt Snedeker, Andy Bean, Bruce Fleisher, Lanny Wadkins, Len Mattiace, and Jesper Parnevik have won the trophy. Tiger Woods and Sergio Garcia have competed at the event.

On the women’s side, South Florida phenom Lexi Thompson has been one of the competitors.

This will be the first year that two major amateur tournaments will be played at the same time in South Florida. The South Beach International Golf Championship will be played almost on the same dates, going Dec. 20-23 at Miami Beach Golf Club and Normandy Shores.

Salerno thinks there is room for both tournaments. “We have a great relationship with the South Beach tournament,” he said.

FAMILY SUPPORT

Thompson and many other members of the Thompson clan, including he mother and father, attended all four days of the recent Miccosukee Championship.

Lexi and her parents were rooting for her brother Nick, who tied for 56th.

MINI OR FULL

Palmetto Golf Course, owned by Miami-Dade County, is the only site in the area that offers two rather unique brands of golf. For the serious golfer, there is a full, 18-hole course. For the less-serious golfer, there is a mini-golf course.