March 26, 2009

AMHERST, VA — The Captains Club announced the "Red Tee Lottery" will return for it's 7th straight year at Poplar Grove Golf Club. Pat Boland, owner of the sweepstakes, held a press conference to discuss the format for 2009.

The Red Tee Lottery and Distribution is a system devised to promote player strategy, add entertainment, advance pace of play, and help tighten the Tournament Leaderboard. The annual Red Tee Lottery begins on Wednesday Night at Big Lick Tropical Bar and finishes during the Thursday morning tournament player meeting.

"We are driving excellence into our prestigious tournament," says Pat Boland, Vice President of Red Tee Lottery and Participant Cancellations. "For the rookies involved, each player is permitted to play one designated hole from the Women Tees or Red Tees. The hole on Thursday is determined by Lottery. The holes on Friday and Saturday are determined by designated hole difficulty rankings using Pat Boland personal opinion.

The 16 easiest holes can equally be multiplied by 5 golfers per hole to acquire the 80 golfer tournament field. There are 10 holes at Poplar Grove in the Thursday lottery system because 3 holes that have no advantage from the red tee and scratch golfers like Jack Schone are too good for several holes.

The 16th hole, a 395-yard par 5, has the largest advantage and was eliminated from the Wednesday night lottery. The 14th hole, a 209-yard par 4, has the second largest advantage and was also eliminated for Round 1. The 411-yard par 5 11th hole, the 240-yard par 4 2nd hole, and the 415-yard par 5 6th hole are also eliminated from Thursday play. The 12th hole, 3rd hole, and 15th hole will be removed with a water hazard preventing an advantage off the tee.

"We will be using 16 holes once we establish the worst golfers on Thursday," said Boland. "The last thing we need is Jason Ridgeway hitting 5-iron at the 209-yard par 4 14th hole. If he hacks up Round 1 worse than 80 golfers, I am very confortable with giving him the 14th hole on Friday morning."

Friday's red tee selections are not determined by a lottery system, but a distribution to 80 golfers. The Tournament Leaderboard will be flipped upside down with the 16th hole going to golfers listed 76th, 77th, 78th, 79th, and 80th on the Tournament Leaderboard.

The 14th hole, a 209-yard par 4, will be distributed to the 70th, 71st, 72nd, 73rd, 74th, and 75th golfers on the Leaderboard.

"We will be basically handing points to the most struggling golfers," said Boland. "When you are wearing an outfit or two, you really do not have an excuse."

The top four golfers on the Leaderboard will receive the 446-yard 3rd hole on both Friday and Saturday. The 3rd is the clubhouse signature hole and has a ravine that will gobble up balls like no other ravine in Spackler history.

Pat Boland is expected to have a hat with 80 numbers on Wednesday night at Big Lick Tropical Bar. "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 June 2003 at Thunder Hill. The popularity grew and remains today as a desired part of the 54-hole tournament.

"Some of the guys may forget their designated hole," Boland added. "Others may take a snowman anyway. Slick took at quintuple bogey in 2007 while playing the 1st hole at the Grande, which was really funny to watch. I love the added pressure to capitalize on a clear advantage. The pressure always contributes to a mental breakdown to someone's vacation."

The hole-by-hole red tee anaylsis is paper research. Boland could make late changes after his Wednesday practice round.

"The very short holes from the red tees became a concern in 2005," added Boland. "Once we have the first round in the books, it is all fair game. Losing the tournament is most pathetic when losers get tremendous advantages over the field."

Pat Boland will provide the 40 scorecards with red tees clearly marked for each golfer. Each participant is responsible to ensure their scorecard is marked by Boland before teeing off the first hole each day.

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

The 2009 Carl Spackler Open Championship begins on June 10 in Amherst, VA. Poplar Grove Golf Club with stunning beauty was selected as the venue to host the major championship. There are 80 participants scheduled for the 9th annual event.