LIT event on Courthouse Square.JPG

The inaugural Lighting + Innovation + Technology event drew thousands of people to Huntsville's Courthouse Square in early March. The latest idea from Downtown Huntsville Inc. is a free, temporary putt-putt course on and around the Square that opens June 13, 2014. (Bob Gathany | bgathany@al.com)

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama – Ever wanted to test your putting skills against a pro golfer?

Former PGA Tour player Spike McRoy. (File photo)

Spike McRoy, a former PGA Tour player from Huntsville who won the 2002 B.C. Open, will be on hand Friday evening to help christen a free, temporary mini golf course around the historic Courthouse Square.

McRoy's appearance from 5-7 p.m. outside Commerce Kitchen will kick off the inaugural Downtown Open.

Belk Hudson Lofts, The Fret Shop, Alabama Media Group, Boeing and other Huntsville businesses are sponsoring 20 unique putt-putt holes that will be scattered on the sidewalks around the Square plus Washington Street, Clinton Avenue and Jefferson Street.

From 3-6 p.m. on Saturday, June 14, Richland Golf Center will sponsor free junior putt-putt tournaments for kids between 6 and 16 years old. The first tourney covers all 20 holes; the second, shorter putting challenge focuses on just the 12 holes right around the Square.

"First- and second-place finishers will receive the very first Downtown Open trophies," said Amy Jones, Downtown Huntsville Inc. special events director.

The holes will stay up through Sunday, June 22. You can bring your own putter and golf balls or borrow them during normal business hours from Harrison Brothers Hardware and Sam & Greg's Pizzeria. Scorecards will be available at Harrison Brothers, Sam & Greg's, the Clinton Row Project and Downtown Huntsville Inc. office on Washington Street.

The holes will be open for play around the clock, said Jones, and will be a "great add-on" to upcoming events including the June 19 Sidewalk Arts Stroll, June 20 "Curse Gaming Takeover" street food fest and June 21 NASA Day on the Square.

"I think it's going to be just a unique way for people to walk around downtown at kind of a slower pace," she said Monday.

Downtown Huntsville Inc. is encouraging players to post their Downtown Open scores on social media with the hashtag #hsvputtputt. "There may be sort of a citywide challenge," said Jones.