Frightening times and ghoulish golf await participants as Spring Valley Golf Club welcomes the haunted season.

The season opens Oct. 28 with the Halloween Golf Spooktacular, a four-person, nine-hole scramble. While it isn't required, golfers are invited to wear costumes - from the most frightening of monsters to the most lovable of kittens.

Golfers also are invited to compete in contests before and after the scramble to win prizes from Spring Valley Golf's pro shop. Contestants will see if a ghostly assist will help them knock down the cardboard Halloween figures or if an eerily cold wind suddenly knocks their ball off line.

The tournament begins at 1 p.m. The cost is $50 per person and includes the greens fee, a cart, food and prizes. The deadline to sign up is 7 p.m. on Oct. 25.

Only the spirits know if defending champs Dave and Jeanette Ahern, and Harold and Laurie Pickinpaugh will show up to defend their titles.

More ghoulishness awaits golfers the following week, when the Day of the Dead Tournament is held.

This two-person, 18 hole best ball event begins with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. on Nov. 4. The cost is $69 and includes the greens fee, cart, food and prizes. The deadline to sign up is 7 p.m. on Nov. 1.

Defending net champs include Ron Mount and Daryl Evans, while defending gross champs are Jerry Smith and Tom Roos.

So if you are of faint heart, you'd best stay home. Only the most courageous among us will be willing to see if the souls of yesteryear will rise above the 100-year-old cottonwood trees that line the golf course and become a factor in the outcome.

Spring Valley is located east of Parker - off Singing Hills Road at 42350 County Road 17-21. For more information or to sign up for either tournament, call 303-646-4240.