August 3, 2006

ROCKY MOUNT, NC — There are disappointing moments during the Carl Spackler Open, but nothing worse than Rob Fustich ignoring a Red Zone Alert in August 2004, which cost him a chance at glory.

You could say the same thing about Shawn Long in 2003, Chris Goss in 2002, and Kevin Long, Jr. in 2001. The Red Zone symbolizes 8 to 10 months before the 2006 Carl Spackler Open and keeping it in your pants.

"I was very very impressed with our field of players last year," said Matt Davis, Vice President of Course Contests. "Our first year without a pregancy excuse was a huge statement. Those positive (or negative on the stick) results is moving the tournament in a positive direction."

There were reportedly 25-30 golfers who decided to skip the Carl Spackler Open due to a wide variety of excuses. None of them included money or pregnancy. "With a stationary date, tournament fee of just under $350 and Red Zone Alert, the Spackler business office has eliminated 99% of all excuses," says Jeremy Myers. "The only thing left are other activites of greater importance, which indeed are choices and not excuses."

The Red Zone Alert starts Saturday and continues for 75 days. The Captains Club asks that everyone recognize the Alert and "be careful," says Jeremy Myers, who was snipped in early June. "Similar to Fat Tuesday... take advantage of Fat Friday. Get your sex tonight and this weekend. We do not like hearing bad news in November."

The Red Zone Alert begins promptly Saturday and lasts until the middle of October.

"We need to force feed this type of information to the field of players," says Bryan Zeybel, who won the 2006 Kitchen Pass Award after sending flowers to his wife on the wrong anniversary date. "The championship is the best thing going and some guys just do not weigh their options."

The Red Zone Alert billboard will be posted for 75 days online as constant reminder for potential violators. "Proactive communication is a great thing," says Jeremy Myers. "The Alert gives people the opportunity to do the right thing."

In related news, Greg Long, Scott Mealey and Chris Lashley have proactively communicated their inability to violate. "A few of us have wives that are already pregnant," said Mealey. "My posse, which includes Lashley and Slick, are covered. Now we just need to find the guys who did it."

The 2007 Carl Spackler Open moves towards the venue decision in mid-September. Budgeting begins immediately after the venue announcement on October 1. Invitations to be available on November 15.