August 18, 2008

POWELL, OH — The tournament venue is unknown. Regardless, invitations are scheduled to be available in mid-November and the Captains Club is expecting a record number of participants for the 2009 Carl Spackler Open Championship. Bill Bateson was asked about the 'Rumor Mill' and participant expectations.

"There are never guarantees, but we are expecting about 10 percent growth for 2009," says member Bill Bateson. "The tournament is expecting a minimum of 64 players and most likely 80 players in the field, which includes the usual topping off of several new rookies."

The tournament history includes 9 players in 2001. It doubled in 2002 with 18 players and nearly doubled again in 2003 with 32 players before jumping to 48 players in Winston-Salem. Another surge of golfers ensured steady growth to 68 players in 2005. The latest event in Peru, IN experienced growth to 72 players.

The last four years has seen considerable participant turnover in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Virginia. The loss of 30 participants has been mostly replaced by members residing in Ohio(18), Pennsylvania(8), and Michigan(4). Participants from Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Hawaii, Arizona, and California have also been added.

"The 9 new registered rookies this summer has been a first for the tournament," said Bateson as he continued with the written statement. "The senior membership, which we call 'rock solid attendance', continues to grow rapidly. We have 37 rock solids."

The present Rumor Mill includes 47 attendees plus 19 probable attendees. There are 49 written commitments from those 66. There are four rookies with written commitments.

The entry to the last Carl Spackler Open was $359 per participant. It included nearly everything except beverages and meals. "The 2009 tournament is expected to similar once again, but an actual tournament fee is unknown until November," said Bateson. "While inflation has risen 15.7 percent since Thunder Hill, the tournament fee has rose 5.9 percent. This demonstrates the power of participant volume while adding services and our willingness to transport ourselves to the best values in America."

The projected growth is expecting to return some members that skipped the 2008 Carl Spackler Open Championship. Richard Myers has filed an early written commitment with the business office to the Major Championship. Myers last attended in June 2005 in Barnesville, PA.

Bateson was asked for his personal opinion on growth. He said, "I am always surprised by the low attendance. You would think a golf vacation for $600 would have golfers running to sign up. I really enjoy seeing the different venues and tasting the local beers along the way. Maybe some more Yuengling this year."

The 2009 Carl Spackler Open is scheduled for June 3 or June 10. The tournament date or venue has not yet been decided. The tournament is expected to be hosted in southern New York or eastern Pennsylvania.