November 2, 2009

LAGUNA VISTA, TX — The Captains Club announced today that a decision on venue would be pushed back one week on the event calendar. The club needs more time to decide on whether Texas or New York will host the 10th Carl Spackler Open.

"There has been conversation regarding a "once-in-a-decade" golf trip to southern Texas for nine months," says Texan Jason Watson. "We just returned from southern Texas. It was a good trip. Our largest concerns with Texas are the inability to drive to southern Texas and reasonable ground transportation.

The standard trip fee in Virginia was $365. This fee increased to $436 when opting for the bus service to the golf course and participating in the practice round.

The golf course and the lodging in Laguna Vista, TX is owned by the same vendor. The cost for golf, cart, range, gps, breakfast, and lodging would be the 2nd cheapest in 10 years behind Mountain Valley.

The budget 'today' suggests a $349 golf trip fee and includes the practice round. "We are more than satisfied with the pricing by potential vendors," says Greg Long. "The distance to southern Texas is the single reason for not booking the event on the spot last week."

The trip fee including inclusive bus service for 50 golfers is $429. The bus service would include 35 hours of nightime transportation plus to/from two local airports and a less expensive San Antonio International Airport.

Approximately 55% of our active senior members and Captains Club members have never flown to a Carl Spackler Open.

There are two local airports approximately 45 minutes from the golf course; Brownsville (BRO) and Harlingen (HRL).  Continental and American fly into BRO. Southwest and Continental fly into HRL.

"We have included ground transportation in our proposal," says Pat Boland. "San Antonio International Airport (SAT), which is 4 1/2 hours from the golf course, would be included for two reasons. (1) Airline tickets are less expensive and (2) the bus company with the best pricing resides in San Antonio."

The dates for a 2010 Texas trip would be:

Wednesday, April 14 (early arrivals)

Thursday, April 15 (practice round)

Friday, April 16 (Round 1)

Saturday, April 17 (Round 2)

Sunday, April 18 (Round 3)

Monday, April 19 (travel day)

The New York option is also considered a strong venue option for June 2010. The Binghamton proposal is $102 per participant higher than Laguna Vista, TX, however 75% of the attendees would not require a airplane ticket. The $465 for New York would include the standard trip fee, practice round, and optional scramble.

"Conklin Players Club and Binghamton are solid opportunities," says Greg Long. "The financial value and personality of southern Texas fits the event better than anywhere except maybe Pottsville, PA."

The Captains Club continues to review the active website 'Rumor Mill' along with New York and Texas options. The online 'Rumor Mill' can be updated by signing into the website, clicking "Attendance Manager" under the "FIELD" drop down menu and selecting your attendance probability.