June 6, 2007

JACKSON, MI — The remaining stretch to the 2007 Carl Spackler Open is short. Only a few days are left for field members to get in their last rounds of practice and work out the kinks in their game. The stakes remain the same, a tournament purse and trophy are just the salad to the steak. The Golden Jacket is the prize everyone is seeking.

The field has several familiar faces that are sure to draw crowds of local fans out to the fairway edges to watch for missile-like balls rocketing towards their faces. Jon Munksgard, Rick Dosky, and particularly the return of Andy Cohen have all signed to participate.

"This course is really in trouble," exclaimed a zealous Marty Zabonik. "I feel like I am really going to kick it into high gear this year. The true rolling greens is the kinda edge that has me excited." Zabonik is one of several players that are sure to be leading the pack after round one. Unfortuately, Zabonik's brief Carl Spackler Open history has him easily ignored.

Mike Davis is looking to rebound from his showing at Tanglewood Park, Mountain Valley, and the Neuse. "The Grande nearly guarantees approach shots from the wide fairways," said Gumby. "This is my time to shine. It is all about exact yardages and dialing in the irons."

Greg Garrett is excited about the large greens. "Everyone will hit the fairways and greens, but who is our greatest on the green," said a pondering Garrett? "The real men who can putt these huge undulating greens has a tremendous edge on the 64 player field. I would pick our reigning Golden Rod Award Winner to bring home the Jacket."

The Grande Golf Club was designed by Ray Hearn and expected to be in top condition for its first major championship. Hole 1 will provide ample fairway from the tee plus fairway behind the monster size green.

"I am bringing some rookies this year," said Jon Munksgard from his garage in Warren. "These guys probably need a formal hazing. We should be able to get a game plan together on Tuesday night."

John Sabat and Joe Muscaro come to their first major championship with gold in their heart and fear in their eyes of the outfits. Their ability or inability to manage the course, its hazards, and most importantly the rookie jitters will be represented on the Tournament Leaderboard by Thursday night.

"I am not as concerned about winning the tournament," says John Sabat. "I am playing not to lose. I wake up with nightmares all the time. My fear is being forced to play aggressive golf in the final round to escape the Carl Spackler Outfit. I wake up sweating with thoughts of women at Jerry's Pub tiki bar laughing at me."

The golf facility will provide a monsterous practice facility, yardage cards, and electric golf carts with mounted coolers. With near perfect conditions, golfers will not be granted too many excuses for poor play.

Several stories are sure to surface as the tournament nears and players begin their migration north. Who will be the next Cinderella story? Who will be the next Horse's Ass? Who will be the next to create a moment that falls into Spackler lore?