January 7, 2009

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 Garrett continued through the tournament course with the eighth hole, "Sentinel", which is a 396-yard Par 4. "The longest uphill par 4 at Poplar Grove," says Greg Garrett. "You must hit the driver and a Gumby snap-hook is big trouble."

The 8th hole is the first of two holes at Poplar Grove where participants can hit a house. "There are a couple of ranch houses set back in the woods on the left," says Garrett. "Anyone that hits a house is a big time hacker with bad luck."

Participants will see a straight fairway set down in a slight bowl. A very tall tree hanging over the left fairway provides a beautiful backdrop.

"Grip it and rip it," says Kevin Long, Jr.. "You need 250 yards here at Sentinel. The left bunker is not in play and 150-yard stick is a perfect target."

The flagstick can be seen, but the green is hidden and most circular at Poplar Grove. The green is 33 yards or 99 feet deep and 29 yards or 87 feet wide. The left greenside bunker appears to be your danger, but the right thick rough and hill are very bad news.

There are seven sand traps; the most at Poplar Grove along with the 5th hole. There are two fairway traps both on the right and left. There are also three left greenside bunkers.

"The left bunkering will temp golfers to bail out right," says Greg Garrett. "The right fairway bunkering (210 to 235 yards) will elminate par and probably bogey. Anything right of the green is a 'club throw' waiting to happen. You will not believe how frustrating a chip can be from the right side."

"The 8th hole, Sentinel, is the most difficult hole on the front side," says Kevin Long, Jr.. "You need a great tee and approach shot to even consider par."

SCORE SUMMARY: Slick played the 8th hole +2 through two days. Double G played +3 through two days. Winger played +1 through one day. The USGA handicap suggests the 5th hardest hole. The Captains Club suggests the 2nd hardest hole with 5 rounds +1.2 strokes over par.

The 2009 Carl Spackler Open Championship will begin its annual practice round on Wednesday, June 10. Official tournament registration ends in 20 days.