The event will have a registration table setup near the practice range. Each golfer must register or sign-in at the table before the afternoon practice round.

This is not an optional, but a required for everyone. The most senior members of the Carl Spackler Open are not excluded from this requirement.

The registration table will be signing-in golfers along with distributing gifts, participant option purchases, and personalized bag tag. There are thousands of items to distribute.

Practice balls are included in the golf trip fee. There should be plenty of golf balls available on the practice range on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Balls will be available 45 to 60 minutes before your tee time.

The 54-hole tournament has experienced completely dry conditions once in history. The tournament will be played in rain, but not in a heavy downpour. The tournament could be adjusted to 36 holes on a particular day to address bad weather. The Skills Challenge and replay round in this order will be activities removed from the itinerary as needed. The tournament can also be adjusted for 27 holes on two days if heavy rain is expected.

Very wet conditions prior to the tournament can attract an obscene amount of mosquitos. It is recommended that players obtain plenty of insect repellent for MULTIPLE golfers if the golf course receives lots of rain prior to arrival. Absorbine Jr. works well.

The cooler morning temperatures could require a pullover jacket. Umbrellas, drizzle sticks, rain suits and towels should be packed.

The Carl Spackler Open expects all payments (including small amounts) to be paid prior to the event to eliminate accounting while on vacation. The event does collect money during the event for various unexpected purchases. Exchanging money is embraced; however every cent must be tracked in the accounting books.

There is no way a sober person will remember 20 different purchases by 20 different golfers two weeks after the event. Our financial officer, Rick Dosky, and Captains Club member Greg Long have small envelopes in their golf bags. Do not hand money to Greg Long and do not hand Rick Dosky money without an envelope. Golfers are expected to write their name, amount, and description of purchase on the envelope.

It takes about one hour to play 18 holes of golf. The other 2.5 to 4.5 hours is "logistical positioning" -- getting to the next shots with the right equipment. Any golf tournament including the PGA Tour played by the rules (no gimmies, no fluffing, etc.) is not going to be completed in under 4 3/4 hours. Add hackers and add time.

The slowest group dictates the pace of play for everyone behind them. Any group that gets out of position -- especially early in the day -- will affect many groups after it.

The pairings are designed with "fun" as top priority and "pace of play" as a close second.

Skilled golfers should educate and lead by example. Everyone needs to enjoy their round, but allow low handicappers to help move things along.

Raking bunkers for others, fixing divots for others, replacing divots for others, and carrying a pocket full of XL Top-Flites is being someone's caddy. It also is speeding up pace of play.

Hitting your own ball first, putting out on occasion, and even putting out of turn while someone is raking a greenside bunker can do wonders for pace of play.

None of the above requires a fellow golfer to play faster between pulling a club from the bag and swinging it. It does imply as a foursome we will work together to play faster.

Your foursome is playing slow if you cannot see the foursome in front of you.

To some degree, the term "sandbagging" always finds its way into any handicapped event.

"Sandbagging" by definition is proactively posting higher scores than real, to gain an advantage in a golf tournament. Participants who use the term sandbagging in casual conversation are implying factual knowledge that a fellow golfer is a cheater.

Sandbagging does not occur at the Carl Spackler Open, but prior to the event. A participant who accuses a golfer of sandbagging or circulates rumors of sandbagging is implying he watched or experienced cheating prior to the event and ignored it.

The Carl Spackler Open is not designed to reward a golfer who plays better than his statistical averages. It is designed to recognize a single golfer who has played better than everyone else who are all playing against their statistical averages. To win this event, a golfer would almost certainly post scores that are not believable to anyone including himself. THESE UNBELIEVABLE SCORES BY DEFINITION WILL RESEMBLE SANDBAGGING.

The following is a list that you might want to bring along on the trip. These items will not be provided.

1. Shampoo
2. Golf Clubs
3. Cigars & Cigarettes
4. Sunglasses
5. Ball Retriever
6. Medical Tape, Bandaids, Sunscreen, Chapstick
7. Cash
8. Umbrella
10. Bug Spray or Absorbine Jr.
11. Golf Shoes (soft spikes)
12. Golf Clothes (the course requires proper golf attire. Please review dress code note)
13. Golf Gloves (extra for potential rain)
14. Phone Charger
15. Golf Towels, plenty in case it is wet.
16. Golf Balls
17. Belt
18. Evening Clothes
19. Swimsuit.
20. Mow your lawn.
21. GPS Yardage Finder w/ Power Cord
22. Phone numbers of your ride to/from airport.
23. Powder or Boxer Briefs to guard against chaffing.
24. Watch, bracelet, or chain.
25. Print this entire notebook for the airplane.
26. Toothpaste & Toothbrush.
27. Weigh Travel Bag for 50lb Airport limit.
28. Carl Spackler Open baseball hats.
29. Golden Jacket.
30. Mobile Phone Charger w/ Power Cord
31. Music Speaker

The tournament handicapping uses Poststats Points. These points are completely independent of Virtual Tournament handicaps. They will be set and printed a few days prior to the event.

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The handicap system is based on posted scorecards to the website, USGA Slope Rating, and yardage played. The USGA Slope Rating is a number (between 55 and 155) given to each tee box in America by the USGA. The number represents the difficulty to the average bogey golfer. The average USGA Slope Rating in America is 115.

Poststats.com uses total yardage played and USGA Slope Rating to apply a "course bonus" to each tee box in America. These bonus points are used to level the course difficulty and handicap each golfer participating in the Carl Spackler Open. The course bonus is not used at the Carl Spackler Open since all participants are playing the same course.

Each golfer is required to post 4+ scorecards to participate in the Carl Spackler Open. The handicap system and computer will use the last 15 posted scorecards regardless of year to determine a golfer handicap. The handicap system will omit the best scorecard and four worst scorecards from the previous 15 posted scorecards. It will tally the average number of birdies, pars, bogeys, double-bogeys, and triple-bogeys for each golfer. (Eagles are converted to birdies.)

The "personal profile" for each golfer has a date field for health setbacks. This field is used for heart attacks, strokes, broken legs, surgeries, and anytime past scorecards are not a representation of a golfer's skill level. The computer does not use scorecards prior to the date entered.

The goal of the handicap system is for each participant to score 60 points per round with their course bonus. For each golfer, the computer will use averages per round (birdie, par, bogey, double-bogey, triple-bogey) described above and cross check the database of 250 different "sets of points" for a set of points that will position each golfer to score 60 points. (Remember course bonus is not used at the Carl Spackler Open.)

The chances of one unknown high handicapped golfer dropping 30% of their strokes per hole over a 54-hole period is more than probable.

Poststats.com added "target points" to the handicapping system in the winter of 2007. The computer started raising point targets for the best golfers while still rewarding the high handicappers. The lower the stroke handicap, the more target points a golfer will receive. Golfers with a stroke handicap of +8 to +11 receive an elevated target to 62 points per round. Participants with a handicap +6 to +8 strokes are bumped to 63 points per round. Handicaps of +6 strokes have target of 64 points and +5 strokes get 65 points. Golfers with a handicap of +2 are targeted at 65 points per round. Jason Ridgeway presently has a negative stroke handicap and receives 67 points.

In addition to golf skill, golfers who play the same course 70 percent of the time will be given an elevated target of 1 point. This change also came in 2007. These "home course" participants will be given 2 points if they play the same course 90 percent of the time. These golfers statistically slip when leaving their home course. The point upgrade allows the entire tournament field to handicapped equally and remove scoring based on extensive course knowledge.

Poststats.com added another target increase in the winter of 2009 as a step to decrease Top 10 volatility and reward participants for posting scorecards. They modified the same target increase in the spring of 2011. Golfers who post scorecards per year (365 days) including past events registered with Poststats.com will receive an additional target point. Point targets will elevate by 1 point for every 4 scorecards posted with a maximum of 5 target points added. Jason Ridgeway's point target jumps to 71 points (A player) and Rick Dosky's (D player) point target jumps to 62 points.

The statisical handicapping detail for each golfer is available online. Golfers can visit the homepage and click "HANDICAPS" in the lower menu. Then click on their name.

Golf shirts along with bermuda shorts. T-shirts, jogging apparel or denim of any kind is prohibited. Only soft spike golf shoes are allowed on the golf course, practice green, and driving range.

The Carl Spackler Open is scored live, however they do allow both paper scorecard and mobile device. The mobile scoring website does not require access rights, however mobile scoring input requires access rights. Brian Long and Greg Long can provide access rights to score the tournament.

Greg Garrett, Brian Long, and Greg Long will be managing 8,000 scores. PLEASE CONSIDER THE SCORING TEAM ON YOUR VACATION. Scorecards with Mike, Jay, or J.D. are the opposite of clarity. Both golf carts must score the entire foursome.  Do not chicken scratch or circle birdies. Track points on your arm and personal stats on your leg.

We are looking for a clear unique name, 18 clearly written numbers, and circled scores to indicate holes with long putt made. Turn in both scorecards when totals are identical.

Mobile live scoring changes 50-year old golf behavior. Unless you plan to strap your cell phone to the golf cart steering wheel, the routine behavior to score has or will change.

1. Comfort. Carry small cell phones in your pocket or find a traditional space in the golf cart.

2. Battery Charge. Come to the golf course with full charge and your Spackler battery charger.

3. Share. Multiple golfers in your foursome can share the job and battery lives.

4. Integrity. Do not score birdies with plans to change it later. Long-term integrity is paramount.

The golf course will store golf bags in the cart garage between your first round and last round of play. A personalized Carl Spackler Open bagtag will be distributed at the registration table before the afternoon practice round.

The biggest problem with golf course bag storage happens when 'mentally spaced out' golfers leave their wallet or keys in their golf bag. Please do not leave expensive watches or equivalent in golf bags. Please do not leave your $1,000 driver or your $300 putter with the golf course.

Golf bags will remain on the carts after golf each day and cart personnel will store them and likely stage carts for the next day of play.

Comfort Suites (formerly MainStay Suites)
1252 Morea Road, Barnesville, PA, 18214
Phone: (570)773-5252

The Mainstay Suites will become a Comfort Inn & Suites on June 15.

Apartment-like stay. Free MainStart? Continental breakfast and hot oatmeal station. Each spacious, guest room offers a fully-equipped kitchen, flat-panel TV, coffee maker, microwave, refrigerator, desk and hair dryer, along with an iron and ironing board.  

The following course tips will be helpful to players who are open to opinion.

MOUNTAIN COURSE
Hole 1 - Driveable.
Hole 3 - 197 yards from CSO tee to clear marsh.
Hole 5 - The hole is as straight as you see.
Hole 7 - Stay left.
Hole 12 - Stay right near tiny pines.
Hole 13 - Largest green.
Hole 14 - Straight.
Hole 18 - Straight.

VALLEY COURSE
Hole 2 - 237 yards straight down. 274 yards to 150 yard marker.
Hole 10 - 239 yards to layup. 262 to clear water.
Hole 11 - 228 yards to layup. 250 yards to clear water.
Hole 13 - 247 yards to single mound on left.
Hole 15 - 257 yards to layup.

There are two holes at Mountain Valley located 30 to 50 yards from Interstate 81.

Directions from I-81/Route 54 or Exit #131 Mahanoy City are as follows.

(1) Morea Road (no road sign) is located at the bottom of the south bound exit ramp. If you are exiting northbound, you will feel like you are going under the highway, turning around, and getting back on the I-81 south. You want Morea Road regardless. PAY ATTENTION. DO NOT GET BACK ON I-81.

(2) Follow this road (Morea Road) for approximately 1 mile and take the first left turn. (You will see a large sign for Mountain Valley Golf Course) This is State Route 1011.

(3) Follow State Route 1011 for approximately 1 mile making left at sign and driveway for Mountain Valley.

Mountain Valley Golf Course is located in Barnesville, PA. The facility includes 36 holes featuring the Mountain course and Valley course. There is a large practice range with chipping green and three putting greens. There many buildings on the property including the large clubhouse. Mountain Valley has added a large pavilion with lookout, Players Club, banquet room, and pro shop.

Mountain Valley built a hotel (Mainstay Suites) about a mile away off I-81. They own the hotel and will provide shuttle service. The hotel is being upgraded from Mainstay Suites to Comfort Suites.

Mountain Valley added a lookout, which turned into a wedding destination that Mountain Valley did not anticipate. Mountain Valley hosts one or two weddings every Saturday of the year plus a reception. Mountain Valley added a pro shop near the carting area, a Players Club for food/drinks, and banquet hall for golf events. These new facilities allow them to close the clubhouse on Saturdays and host wedding receptions.

Our nightly socials will be hosted on the clubhouse deck or inside the banquet room on Saturday.

The golf courses are very tight and the tightest in Spackler history. Do not plan to hit driver 14 times a round. The 200-yard club, if hit well, will be repeated over and over and over again. Practice the longest iron or hybrid in your bag.

The Carl Spackler Open has an independent mobile website. m.poststats.com. This is the letter m followed by a dot. Then poststats dot com. The username and password are both case sensitive. Many phones auto capitalize the first letter when trying to enter a username. Be careful. BOOKMARK THIS WEBSITE ON YOUR PHONE. YOU WILL FORGET THE WEB ADDRESS.

The mobile website is simplified for the actual 96 hour event. It does not have pictures or news. It contains an address book, Leaderboards, scoring, notifications, pairings, tee times, and schedule.

Do not test enter scores prior to actual play, however feel free to get comfortable with the information provided. There are no longer pairing sheets being distributed at the Carl Spackler Open.

The Poststats.com server will send a personalized email to all golfer accounts every morning. The agenda will be personalized to you. It will contain golf course, tee time, playing partners, partner contact information, cart driver, red tee, event itinerary, and other notifications.

The days of printed pairing sheets are over. Its is golfer responsibility to obtain information from their personalized agenda and mobile website.

GOLFERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE AGENDA EMAIL SHOULD CHECK THEIR "JUNK" FOLDER.

An informative meeting will be held on the clubhouse deck in conjunction with dinner after the initial bag storage. Chicken wings and drink will be served. PLEASE DO NOT TAKE MORE THAN 12 WINGS.

The shuttle service will be dispatched by calling this number. 570-778-3036

The weather forecast for Friday is the worst in 17 years. There is a new flexible plan for the golf tournament.

(1) The Scramble has been cancelled.

(2) There are golfers who never finished Round 1. They will finish on Friday morning before we will proceed.

(3) The goal for Friday is to play 9 tournament holes over 15 daylight hours. We will not play golf Friday at 8:00am. Everyone should be on golf course property by 9:30am.

(5) The Mountain course drains better than the Valley course. We will play Round 2 in a shotgun format on the Mountain course. A text will be sent in morning with start time. These 9 holes could be 3 hours staggered throughout the day. The goal again is 9 holes, but there is a slim chance (20%) we will get in 18 holes.

(6) There is a possibility that range mats will be moved under the pavilion tomorrow. A Skills Challenge Contest would be held under the pavilion using 18th green. This will be decided tomorrow.

(7) Saturday weather looks great. We will finish Round 2 with a 8:00am shotgun start on the Mountain course. That means depart to holes at 7:50am. Everyone on the grounds by 7:15am. Then shotgun the final round on the Valley course.

(8) If we get in 18 holes on Friday... Saturday could be straight tee on the Valley course with same tee times as presently scheduled.