Sports festival begins.

Byline: CHRIS HANSEN The Register-Guard

Doug Post never thought two decades ago that the little sports festival he was co-founding would survive as long as it has.

But the Senior Masters, which opens its weeklong run today, is still drawing a crowded field of competitors.

"I would have been surprised to know it would go 20 years," said Post, who helped start the sports festival along with the late Lou Zazloff. Post is now the executive director.

"This was really Lou's vision," Post said. "He was real big in getting older people into physical activities."

Nearly 250 men and women 30 years old and up are registered to participate in the five sports offered this year - golf, tennis, racquetball, swimming and volleyball.

"If it was to get any bigger, then this would start to feel more like a job," joked Post, who said the festival has become less of a competition and more of an event where old friends come back to meet each other.

"We don't emphasize big prizes or awards, just have a good time" Post said. "I think everyone signs up because they want to play and enjoy themselves."

The festival starts today as golfers 55 years old and up take to four area courses for the first of two 18-hole rounds.

The second will be played Tuesday.

On Friday, the tennis (45 years old and up) and racquetball (women 35 and older, men 40 and older) competitions start at the Willow Creek Racquet and Sports Center and Courtsports Athletic Club, respectively.

The tennis tournament will last through Sunday, while the racquetball will end on Saturday.

Also on Saturday, the single-day swimming (30 and older) and volleyball (35 and older for women, 40 and older for men) competitions will be held.

The swimming will be held at Echo Hollow Pool, and volleyball will be played at Willow Creek.