April 11, 2005

POTTSVILLE, PA — The 2005 Carl Spackler Open took a blow to "sleep time" and added unwanted "wake time" to the tournament itinerary.  The Captains Club verified on Friday what they expected since October, but hoped would not occur.

A large corporate outing plans to return to Mountain Valley for the 10th straight year on June 10 with use of all three courses starting at 11:45AM.  That pushes Round 2 play of the Carl Spackler Open to a shotgun start at 7:27AM.  The outing will use the courses until 3:45PM, where the optional Spackler four-man scramble will commence.

"We are not exactly happy with the outing resigning again this year," says Don Creighton.  "However, we have made some changes that I hope everyone will enjoy."

The Friday afternoon scramble and clubhouse happy hour on Friday night dealt the Captains Club a 3.5 hour hole of lost time.  However, the club plans to return a jab.  To better position the tournament, the Captains Club has loosened both Thursday and Saturday itineraries and filled the Friday hole.

Starting very, very early Friday morning, the free sober shuttle bus will leave the River Inn at 6:15AM for the golf course.  It will arrive at 6:45AM, where golf clubs will be retrieved from a locked area on the grounds.  Players will have 30 minutes to get their coffee, hit range balls, putt, or get slapped in the face before leaving for their designated holes for Round 2 to commence at 7:27AM.

After Round 2 play, the Closest to the Pin Contest will begin at noon on the range.  A clubhouse lunch on the deck is planned for 1:15PM and the Skills Challenge has been moved to 2:15PM on the practice green.  

"The Open Championship and outing has closed the golf course on Friday for public play," says Tom McCauley.  "Since the corporate outing will be on the golf course during our 3.5 hour window, we have full reign of the practice facility, clubhouse, and practice greens.  That helps out considerably."  Local members will fill the remaining tee times.

The four-man scramble will play on Maple and Pine and finish in front of the clubhouse and nearly 600 happy hour patrons.  The 68 sets of clubs will be returned to the locked area and the free sober shuttle bus will return to the River Inn at 10:15PM.

The director of golf at Mountain Valley made a brief statement regarding the 2005 choice of venue, "We are very excited to have the Carl Spackler Open Championship.  Everyone will be very pleased with what we offer at Mountain Valley.  I do apologize about the early tee time on Friday.  There is nothing we can do.  We can doing anything else to make your tournament experience a success.  By the way, wait until you see the girls the corporation brings with them each year.  You might be glad they are playing Friday."

The full 2005 Carl Spackler Open itinerary has been updated and posted online.  There are 58 days left until Round 1 play.  Players continue to practice and get in tournament shape.