September 13, 2004

READING, PA — The eighteen hole championship Golden Oaks Golf Club featuring PGA Tour style greens, picture perfect tee boxes, crisp ponds, and wonderful clubhouse is being eliminated from the 2005 Carl Spackler Open Championship venue list.

"The location does not have the right touch," says Greg Long. "The course layout at Golden Oaks does not meet Spackler standards and the city of Reading is lacking.  The fairways were also very poor and potential hotels are not adequate."

Golden Oaks is currently ranked #1 in Berks County.  "The greens were absolutely outstanding," says Long.  "They are better than Tanglewood Park and Pinehurst and would be the best in Spackler history.  In addition, the clubhouse offered outstanding prices and necessary services.  Greens are not everything."

The Par 72 course plays 6,600 yards from the mid-back tees.  This course was built on rolling hills with many uneven lies. Some of the fairways were carved out of a wooded area.  The clubhouse was built with a large deck overlooking the final hole.

Regardless, the course was eliminated based on course layout and hotel quality.  "As of today, we are eliminating the course as a possibility," says Long. "We just do not think this is the best facility for the 2005 Carl Spackler Open.  Our decision is based on better potential facilities and not the course or hotels directly."

The 2005 Carl Spackler Open is scheduled to begin on June 9, 2004.  A field of 64 players are estimated for the 5th major championship.