November 27, 2008

AMHERST, VA — Poplar Grove Golf Club, the final design of golf legend Sam Snead, was chosen to host the 2009 Carl Spackler Open Championship. On behalf of the Captains Club, Greg Long, Greg Garrett, and Kevin Long, continued to provide the detail surrounding the tournament course.

Greg Long continued through the tournament course with the third hole, "Doublecross", which is a 554-yard Par 5. The third hole is downhill and round the corner to an elevated green.

"The 3rd hole is a near replica of the 11th hole at Jack Nicklaus' Muirfield Village," says Greg Long. "The downhill tee shot, ravine, elevated green, greenside bunker, apron, and dogleg right makes you wonder if it is a replica."

Golfers are given a very generous tee shot landing area. "We need 210 downhill yards off the tee," says Kevin Long, Jr. "The right side slopes considerably left. Longer drives traveling 265 downhill yards to the left side of a tight fairway have a very tight 200-yard approach to the greenside apron."

Doublecross is the first hole at Poplar Grove with a ravine. The creek is hidden in the left woods and splits the fairway 300 yards from the tee. The creek then turns left and winds up the right side before passing in front of the green. Players must doublecross the ravine.

"The fairway gets really tight inside 200 yards," says Greg Garrett. "The hole gets tighter and tighter as you go."

The elevated green is oval shaped and points differently depending on approach. Golfers going after the green in two shots will see a green shape similar to 12:00 on a clock. The closer the approach, the more the green depth turns against you. The green is 37 yards or 111 feet deep and just 35 feet in width. The left greenside bunker comes into play with approaches inside 75 yards.

"I recommend boring golf again," says Greg Garrett. "Hit the 210-yard club unless you get zero points for bogey and can hit a 'cut'. Concentration on length is a waste at the 3rd hole. Players should eliminate the greenside bunker, provide maximum green depth, and maximize ball control."

There are two sand traps; one greenside and one at the end of the fairway.

"Hit a few yards past the 150-yard stick with your second shot," says Greg Long. "There is an overhanging branch from 160 yards. Do not get fancy with low-irons because this hole can be penal."

"I got a pair of pars with four 9-irons," said Greg Long. "Doublecross is beautiful and the clubhouse signature hole, but the most boring hole to play at Poplar Grove."

SCORE SUMMARY: Slick played the 3rd hole even through two days. Double G played +2 through two days. Winger played +1 through one day. The USGA handicap suggests the hardest hole at Poplar Grove, however the Captains Club suggests the 5th easiest hole with 5 rounds +0.6 strokes over par.

The 2009 Carl Spackler Open Championship will begin its annual practice round on Wednesday, June 10. Official tournament registration must be postmarked by January 28.