Josh Short tees off at Cooper's Lake Almost-Golf Course, as Austin Stoddard looks on. The course was designed by Slippery Rock High School graduate Jeff Tracy, who runs the annual Cooper's Lake Open.

SLIPPERY ROCK — For four years, Jeff Tracy was the No. 1 player on Slippery Rock High School's golf team.

Four years later, he is still into golf — almost.

Tracy recently ran his third Cooper's Lake Open — a tournament using only almostGOLF balls — on the property of the campground owned by his family. He designs, builds and maintains a new course at Cooper's Lake each year.

“An almostGOLF ball travels about a third of the distance of a regular golf ball,” Tracy explained. “You can build courses in a condensed area as a result.”

The ball is made from “cross-linked foaming” for a softer feel. It does not break or show any more wear and tear than a regular golf ball.

The AlmostGOLF ball was invented in California by Robert Peterson in 2003. It has the same size, shape and dimples of a regular golf ball, but weighs only 13.5 grams. A regular golf ball weighs 46 grams.

A 250-yard drive with a regular golf ball will travel approximately 100 yards with an almostGOLF Ball.

Tracy is a senior at California (Pa.) University and is in the school's Professional Golf Management program.

“I did an internship at a golf course and worked with the Tri-State PGA Junior Tournament,” Tracy said. “I became familiar with almostGOLF balls and they fascinated me.

“I've always wanted to design a golf course of some type and Cooper's Lake seemed like a natural for this.”

The par-72 course covers 6,700 feet. The longest hole was 565 feet, the shortest 140 feet. Austin Stoddard of Youngville won this year's event with a 7-over-par 79, three strokes better than two-time defending champion Josh Short of Green Tree.

Top local finisher was Tim Johnston of Karns City, who was fourth with an 88. Ethan Bryan of Slippery Rock was fifth with a 91.

“We had 17 golfers this year, the most we've had yet,” Tracy said. “My goal is to make this one of the top sporting events in the area. I know it will continue to grow.”

Tracy's course is believed to be one of only three almostGOLF courses in the United States. The sport is extremely popular in Germany and France.

Tracy said he first heard about the almostGOLF ball in 2004 at a Pittsburgh Golf Show.

“I tried it and have been interested in it ever since,” he said. “I've met Mr. Peterson and am doing some work with him now to help promote it.

“The best thing about it is you can practice golf in your own yard, almost anywhere. The ball is light enough that it can't hurt anything. It's not going to break a window or dent anything.”

Tracy said 30,000 schools across the country now use almostGOLF balls to help teach the game.

“This ball has created a whole new world for golf,” he added. “Games are played in parks, in cities, on streets, even from rooftop to rooftop.”

When he builds his golf course for the annual Cooper's Open, he uses the natural terrain of Cooper's Lake.

“No landscaping is needed,” Tracy said. “I route the course so it fits the terrain. All I have to do is mow it to maintain it.”