April 11, 2007

DULUTH, GA — The return of Pat Boland and his lottery is reality this June. Boland signs as the 55th player to the extensive field and attends for his 4th-straight major championship.

The Captains Club, in honor of its new owner, changed the name last year from Red Tee Lottery to Pat Boland's Lottery.

"This name change is stupid," said Boland of his Lottery. "You have taken away a very good name and replaced it with something unncessary. I am changing the name back to the Red Tee Lottery."

The Red Tee Lottery will begin as early as Wednesday evening during the Welcome Party at the Beach Bar. The remaining selections will be completed during the mandatory player meeting on Thursday. Although unknown, there could be 15 holes used during the tournament where each hole will be used by 4 different golfers per day.

"I really love the Red Tee Lottery and Distribution," said Pat Boland. "This is my chance each year to contribute to a great event."

The Red Tee Lottery was introduced back in 2003 at Thunder Hill. It gives all players the opportunity to play one hole from the Red Tees if so desired.

"Some of the guys may forget their designated hole," Boland added. "Others may take a snowman anyway. I love the added pressure to capitalize on a clear advantage. The pressure always contributes to a mental breakdown to someone's vacation."

Starting in Round 2, Red Tee hole designation will be distributed based on reverse leaderboard order. "The biggest disappointment from Round 1 will receive the most coveted Red Tee," says Boland. "This is based on my opinion and is generally a Par-5, which plays 100-120 yards shorter than the tournament tees."

The Red Tee Lottery will provide a tremendous pressure shot at Hole 5. The downhill par 3 of just 96 yards boasts a large green measuring 9,500 square feet. "How bad is someone that misses this green from the Red Tee," asks Boland? "I can see 3 and 4 putts on a very tricky fast green, but missing the green entirely is pathetic."

The 8th hole is a straight-forward 412-yard par-5, which gives someone a tremendous opportunity to score.

Boland shared his personal favorite, "The 15th hole is a 240-yard par-4. The absence of bunkers upfront along with an obsese 180-foot wide green should be considered the best opportunity on the golf course."

The Red Tee Lottery is also expected to offer a great deal of risk. "There are many risk and reward opportunities out there," says Boland. "The par-5 13th hole from the red tees requires 240 yards on the fly, but will reward with an approach shot inside 150 yards. Another hole is the 9th. The 246-yard par-4 will require incredible accuracy off the tee. The last 200 yards of ball flight would be over marsh land."

The Grande Golf Club was designed with considerable risk for all tees. Golfers not thinking should have plenty of zeros on their individual scorecards.

"Pat Boland was a friend," says fellow member Andy Cohen. "He became a great friend with this lottery. It is my only par each year."

The 2007 Carl Spackler Open Championship begins on June 7 in Jackson, MI. The Grande Golf Club with incredible large greens and wide fairways was selected as the venue to host the major championship.