June 5, 2009

AMHERST, VA — Poplar Grove Golf Club, the final design of golf legend Sam Snead, was chosen to host the 2009 Carl Spackler Open Championship. On behalf of the Captains Club, Greg Long, Greg Garrett, and Kevin Long, continued to provide the detail surrounding the tournament course.

Kevin Long, Jr. continued through the tournament course with the 17th hole, "Lakefront", which is a 188-yard Par 3. "The worst hole at Poplar Grove," says Long. "It is nothing special. Just another one of those holes with the tee and green pushed out in a lake or pond."

Lakefront is another hard hole at Poplar Grove for hackers. It requires a solid 170 yards to cross the pond if aiming at the flagstick. The tournament could see 80 to 100 penalty strokes at the 17th hole. Sam Snead added fairway to the left side (similar to Grande's 12th hole) as a bailout area.

"I agree with Kevin on the worst or most boring hole at Poplar Grove," says Greg Garrett. "This hole really puts things into perspective on how incredible Poplar Grove will be as our tournament course."

The green is oval shaped pointing 2:42 on a clock with a ridge (parallel to tee box) in the middle. The green is 29 yards or 87 feet deep. The back left greenside bunker is a terrifying shot.

There are two sand traps; both greenside; front right and back left. The back left bunker lip is higher than any part of the green. If that is not bad enough, the green slopes toward the lake with no bunker to keep your ball out of the lake.

"The 17th hole, Lakefront, is a solid par 3 very similar to Darby Creek #11, Tartan East #5, Covered Bridge #3 & #8, Players Club at Foxfire #7, Hell's Point #11, and Rock Hollow #8," says Greg Long. "When the wind is blowing... there might not be a more important club selection on the course."

SCORE SUMMARY: Slick played the 4th hole +2 through two days. Double G played +2 through two days. Winger played +1 through one day. The USGA handicap suggests the 8th hardest hole, however the Captains Club suggests the 2nd hardest hole with 5 rounds +1.2 strokes over par.

The 2009 Carl Spackler Open Championship attendance is set to grow 22.2% from 2008. There are 10 participants scheduled for a pre-practice round on Tuesday afternoon at Poplar Grove.