FOXBURG — Rather than a family tree, the Marrons have a family tee.

The Foxburg-based family will appear in force at the 2009 Butler Eagle Amateur Open Aug. 9 at Oakview Golf Club.

"Their history in our event goes way back," Eagle Amateur committee member John Carpenter said. "It seems like they've been a part of this thing forever.

"Every year, there's four or five of them in the tournament."

Chris Marron won the Eagle Amateur in 2003 at Hiland Golf Course. John Marron won the event in 1975, when it was known as the Butler County Open.

Neither will be in this year's event. John lives in Johnstown now and Chris is an assistant pro at Treesdale.

Jim Marron, 63, played in the Eagle Amateur at Oakview a few years ago and plans to return this year. His brothers, Jerry, 59, and Leo, 52, are also expected to play, as is Jerry's son, Ted, a senior on the Washington & Jefferson College golf team.

"He'd been studying abroad in Spain and just got back last Friday," Jerry Marron said. "He hasn't had much chance to play golf this summer, but we'll be there.

"(The Eagle Amateur) is a local event, it's well run and it's always played on good courses. We enjoy it," he added.

The Marrons know plenty about good golf courses. Some of them have had homes right along the one at Foxburg Country Club.

"John, Jerry and Leo have all lived right on that course, and I live maybe 400 yards from it, as the crow flies," Jim Marron said. "That's what got our family so into golf.

"The course has always been accessible to us. When we were kids, we were out there all the time, playing as many as 54 to 72 holes in a day."

Chris Marron is one of Jim's sons. Another is Mike, 32, who finished fourth at the West Penn Public Links Tournament with an even-par 140 for 36 holes Monday at Cranberry Highlands.

Like their parents, they've spent a good part of their childhood on the nine-hole Foxburg course.

"We practically grew up there," Mike Marron said. "I remember being there every day during the summer."

It's no small wonder that every Marron golfer has won the club championship at Foxburg Country Club at least once. Jim completed that sweep when he won it at age 60 two years ago.

"I was the only one who had never won it," Jim said. "All of my brothers, the kids, my wife, daughter, they've all done that."

Jim's daughter, Leah; his wife, Ann; and his niece, Emily all have won the women's club title at Foxburg. Emily is now the women's golf coach at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro.

"Jim was the one who started the ball rolling with golf in our family," Leo Marron said. "My dad only played sporadically. Jim played high school golf and we all sort of followed his lead. I've been playing since I was 12 and so has Jerry."

Jim Marron said his son Mike "probably works harder at his game than all of us."

"I try to play three times a week," Mike said. "I work eight hours a day, so I have time to play evenings and on weekends.

"I try to play as many tournaments as I can. I have no aspirations to coach, just to play in more tournaments and keep improving."

The Marrons remain hopeful that a third member of the family can get his name etched on the Eagle Amateur trophy.

Entries for this year's Eagle Amateur are available at area golf courses or by calling Carpenter at 724-794-4040.

"Entries have been coming in slowly, but we're expecting a good turnout," Carpenter said.

Last year's Eagle Amateur, won by first-time entrant Sean Knapp, had 135 golfers.

Entry fee is $65 and covers greens fees, skin games and prizes. It doesn't include a cart.

Shotgun starts for the 18-hole championship play event — featuring four flights — are available at 7:45 a.m. and 1:15 p.m.