March 16, 2007

JACKSON, MI — Basic in design and gaudy gold in color, the Golden Jacket still has a cachet all its own. Though better suited a night on the beach than the fashion runways, few sport coats are more coveted than the Golden Jacket. Only registered players of the Carl Spackler Open Championship have a chance to wear it.

As the 7th Carl Spackler Open golf tournament tees off in June, we take a look at "the jolly Golden Jacket" and the mystique surrounding it. "It's a really big deal because of the tradition and prestige associated with owning it for a full year," says Jason Watson, local golfer and Vice President of Awards for the Captains Club. "It's the symbolism surrounding it that makes it so special," says Watson, who golfs at least once a week, weather permitting.

"From a fashion standpoint, I don't think anyone would reach for it based solely on color or style," he says. "The gold looks a little off to me. It might be difficult to match a tie to it." Rookie Mark Wray, says while there's some debate about which tournament is considered toughest to win, there's no disputing which jacket most golfers would love to own. Everybody wants the gold one," says Wray from his home in Galloway, OH. "But if I had one, I wouldn't wear it just any place. People who aren't in golf circles wouldn't know what it meant. They'd just think I was some crazy guy in a flashy gold jacket."

What's flashy to some, however, is a mark of flair to others. That three-button, single-breasted, center vent jacket has received kudos from the most unlikely source.

The first Golden Jacket was awarded to Carl Spackler Champion in 2001. Greg Long put that one on at tournament's end and Mike Trojanowski was awarded the prestigous honor in 2002. Tom Fowble followed in 2003 when he tamed Thunder Hill with a ridiciously high handicap. Steve Hoden finished the back nine of Tanglewood Park with 2 birdies and his jacket in 2004. The CFO Rick Dosky roared out of the gate to stamp his name into history at Mountain Valley in 2005.

Last year, Shawn Long shocked the world with 4 bogeys, 3 pars and 1 birdie to score 67 points in the final round. A 6-foot putt that found the bottom of the cup on the final hole of the tournament was just enough to win his first Golden Jacket.

Traditionally, the champion takes his jacket home with him for one year, then returns it to the following tournament to be given to the next winner. "Shawn Long will not be returning this year," says Jason Watson. "This opens the opportunity to find someone special to do the honor of placing the jacket on winner's shoulders. The honor of touching it has been a goal of many."

CFO Rick Dosky declined to reveal how much it costs to make the Golden Jacket. "That's something you can't really put a price tag on anyway," he says. "It's not about how cheaply or expensively it's made, but what it stands for to the person wearing it."