July 16, 2009

LAGUNA VISTA, TX — The 2010 Carl Spackler Open Championship is 9 years old with the business office not only exploring its locale for 2010, but a date for its locale. The Captains Club opened the Rumor Mill on Thursday afternoon with the option of participant verbal commitments.

"We do not have any idea where we are going at this moment," says Jason Watson, Vice-President of Awards and member of the Captains Club.

The Captains Club did announce today that South Padre Island Golf Club has opened the 2010 venue list. The 4-star Championship golf course is located in Laguna Vista, TX. The facility in southern Texas is considered a very strong contender for the 10th major championship. The Laguna Vista venue option would be held April 15-19, 2010.

"We are very happy with our situation in Laguna Vista, TX," said Watson. "We have confirmed with the golf course and the resort rentals on price and availability. Slick is coming down in October so we can take a look around."

Slick processed his $59 one-way flight to Houston, TX this week. Of course, the 49ers at Texans football game is not the priority, but it is a great opportunity on Sunday. "I would have skipped the opportunity to see rookie Michael Crabtree with free seats at the 47 yard line, but Watson guarantees the 50 yard line," says Greg Long. "Then down to Laguna Vista for business before flying home for $94 one-way. Everyone else is invited to ride along."

Long added, "We are taking the Texas opportunity very seriously. You are going to need $300 for a flight plus the tournament fee. Everyone should start saving immediately. This tournament would begin in exactly 9 months if held in Texas."

This southernmost course in Texas, South Padre Island Golf Club, is actually situated on the mainland in Laguna Vista. Architects Chris Cole and Stephen Caplinger carved an outstanding layout out of the wild native Gulf coast vegetation, with several holes bordering the Laguna Madre. The club has hosted the Texas Senior Open and the South Texas PGA Southern Championship since its opening in 1997.

The design features wide fairways bordered by native yucca, mesquite and cactus, and the windy conditions often make it challenging to keep the ball in the fairway. Errant shots will be lost for sure. Others that fail to find the fairway will bury in waste areas and deep rough.

For the most part, the longer holes seem to play more downwind, while the shorter ones play into the wind. The large greens are of championship quality. Three of them are multi-tiered.

The front side is more entertaining, especially since holes 3-7 roll along the Laguna Madre. No. 5 is the feature hole, a picturesque, 335-yard, par 4 with a tee shot that must carry the Laguna Madre into a sharp dogleg-right fairway. On the back, No. 11 stands out because of the giant mesquite tree that dominates the middle of the fairway. And No. 12 can be interesting: it's a short par 3 that is completely surrounded by water.

The Senior Texas Open was played at South Padre Island Golf Club for 10 years before moving to Houston in November 2008.

The weather in Laguna Vista is very similar to Tampa, FL. The average high temperature in early April is a comfortable 79 degrees. The low average is 67 degrees. On average, Laguna Vista receives just 1.79 inches of rain in April. To compare, Rock Hollow averages 4.23 inches and Raleigh averages 4.06 inches of rain in June.

A National Golf Foundation poll concluded that the Rio Grande Valley has more playable days of golf (less than 25 days lost to bad weather) per year than anywhere else in the United States except southern CA. Laguna Vista receives less rain than Las Vegas and Phoenix, AZ.

"The lack of rain in south Texas really adds a touch we just cannot find anywhere," says Jason Watson. "I think our tournament in Amherst, VA shows the importance of sunny weather."

The 2010 Carl Spackler Open Championship venue selection kicks off today with an unknown date and unknown location. South Padre Island Golf Club opens the list. There are a few other opportunities that are expected to be added to the potential venue list.