May 19, 2009

AMHERST, VA — With just over three weeks left before Round 1, the handicaps, pairings, and roommates have been set for the 9th annual Carl Spackler Open Championship. Final points will be updated just before the tournament, but general handicaps are becoming available including the scramble team event. A press conference was called to answer plenty of questions regarding the overall tournament.

The Chairman, Greg Long, led the press conference inside the upgraded Spackler's regional Columbus Media center with CFO Rick Dosky. The two Captains Club members showed up in their new Golden Jackets.

The first question was directed at the overall tournament and whether the Captains Club, golf course, and player services are ready. "This stands to be the greatest golf event held in the state of Virginia since the 2002 Carl Spackler Open held in Williamsburg, VA," says Rick Dosky. "I cannot believe it has been 7 years."

Dosky allowed Greg "Slick" Long to talk freely about the golf course. "Lets start with the course. Poplar Grove Golf Club demonstrates enough unique character and conditions to put it in my all-time Top 1. [pause] My worry is not whether the course will be enjoyed, but whether the water and deep sugar white bunkers will stalk golfers from tees and fairways. My main concern is only about whether the course is fan friendly enough and whether the beautiful property will become a distraction to our inexperienced members and rookies."

Long was mostly likely referring to fan favorites Mike Lewis of Warren, PA and Scott Miller of Parkersburg, WV. Thousands are expected to flock through the unique design in hopes of getting a glimpse of a Lewis divot or Miller autograph.

A reporter asked about the conditions. "Very good question," exclaimed Long. "I have been assured golf carts have been prohibited in the rough to ensure a thick 4 inch cut for the Open Championship. We have Championship standards and Poplar Grove is doing a great job."

"We all need to say a prayer for heavy rain on June 6 and June 7," says Long. "This will scare a high volume of foot and cart traffic off the golf course the weekend prior and result in near perfect conditions."

"That reminds me. The conditions will be as good as we can keep them. Repairing divots and raking sand is very important to achieving the best conditions. Professional divot repair instruction will be provided on Thursday at 9:50 AM EST just off the first tee box. ex-Assistant Greenskeeper Tom McCauley will be sharing the facts instead of rumors behind divot repair."

Greg Long, Kevin Long, Jr., and Greg Garrett enter the tournament with Poplar Grove Golf Club course knowledge.

The Captains Club finalized most of the plans last month and we are ready to execute. Long then verified those plans, "The Captains Club started early and is extremely prepared including backup plans for heavy rain," said Slick. "We all did a wonderful job this year and people will see everything either through TV coverage, website, attendance, or word of mouth.

It has been fun inventing and providing the best opportunities for a fast growing golf tournament. The large budget helped us get everything we needed and wanted for this year's tournament including bus service, 26 Golden Jackets, golf tools, gifts, meals, table throw, umbrellas, and thousands of dollars in other giveaways and prizes."

Dosky jumped back in. "The tournament budget exceeded $40,000 this year," said Dosky. "I would estimate the golf tournament will stimulate the local Amherst and Lynchburg economies with approximately $50,000 by June 14."

Long immediately picked out someone from the back of the room. "Sir, do you have a question?" The reporter asked about favorites and chances of highly-touted Brian Flanagan winning again. Long replied, "My job is to simply level the field of players using the computer. In fact, we just let the computer do it, but technically responsible for making sure everyone has four scorecards."

A waitress interrupted Dosky for a moment with a menu. Long asked for a beer and got back to business repeating part of the question to himself. "chances of Brian Flanagan winning... Well, Butter has been playing really well over the past couple of years. The problem is Brian's swing. It is over the top and inconsistent due to lack of practice. It is very similar to driving a porsche down a road in a deep forest with no lug nuts. At some point, the porsche is going to hit 20 trees, flip over 6 times, and hit 5 more trees and end up in about ten-thousand pieces."

CEO Jeremy Myers shouted from the Captains Club table in the front. "I don't know about that. If we can teach a monkey to go to space, I would imagine we can teach Flanagan to golf consistently."

[the room busts out laughing]

A reporter asked, "Which golfer has the edge?"

"Ridgeway, Schone, & Zabonik," answered Long. "They should be putting for eagle 3 or 4 times per day. This tournament is going to boil down to managing yardage, the creeks, and putting well."

The next question asked about possible surprises. Long took the question.

"I am not sure about surprises, but the two most unnoticed aspects of the tournament experience this year will be our hotel and course beauty," said Rick. "First, our hotel and its meeting room allows the tournament to be managed with much less logistics. Second, the course aesthetics cannot be felt by pictures or described in words. The setting and terrain of the property is really something special. This place is a masterpiece. I just hope the conditions resemble last September 2008."

Dosky was asked about his golden jacket. "It feels really good," said Dosky. "Fits like a glove. [Dosky rolls his shoulders and unbuttons his jacket.] I feel so much confidence when it is on my shoulders. I feel like I can do anything."

Dosky was asked if he could finish the conference with a quick overall summary of the week ahead. "Live music, baseball game, swimming pool, and Poplar Grove Golf Club are the foundations to an top-notch golf tournament, but our golfers ultimately control the experience. The large portion of our tournament field will experience golf at a personal best. A very intriguing golf course with top of the line conditions. Then drinks and a relaxing dinner each night."

The 2009 Carl Spackler Open Championship will tee up at 10:00AM EST on Thursday. There are 22 tee times in a dual tee format consuming 100 minutes each day.