May 9, 2010

SKILLMAN, NJ — The best amateur golf tournament in the world can start to prepare themselves for a change of date. The Captains Club announced the date of the Carl Spackler Open Championship practice round will continue to be held 11 days prior to Fathers Day or in a new slot 12 days prior to Memorial Day. Senior member Nick Casale filled in for the club as he made the announcement.

"On behalf of the Captains Club, I am pleased to announce that the 11th annual Carl Spackler Open Championship will take place June 8-11, 2011 or the new date May 18-21, 2011. We are leaning towards June.

The new date in May has been inserted to provide additional vendor availability and more importantly as an alternative date not to conflict with hundreds of future high school graduations."

A date sounds simple and without thought," said the winner of the 2010 Kitchen Pass Award Nick Casale. "The goal is to get the date out there with plenty of notice. The May 18-21 date had the least number of wedding anniversaries and family birthdays when participant date conflicts were collected in March 2009."

Casale continued to read the press document. "Participants would not believe the number of conflicts with almost everyday of the year. There are 12 conflicts the weekend after Father's Day and 8 conflicts the weekend after Memorial Day. It is actually impossible to find a date that works with everyone."

The only conflicts known with the date continue to be a few son and daughter birthdays, some teacher availiability, and future high school graduations.

"We love our bermuda grass very green and our northern oaks in full bloom," said Casale. "I personally like the United States Open and Father's Day being the weekend after Spackler."

The inaugural tournament was held in Myrtle Beach in a very cold March 2001. The tournament immediately pushed towards a summer classic by holding the 2002 Open in April 2002, where it experienced 90-degree temperatures in southern Virginia. The championship moved to June when the tournament was held in northeast Ohio. It remained in June until this past April when the date was moved up for the 'once-in-a-decade' trip to southern Texas.

The date of choice lowers the probability of incredibly hot temperatures  in the south while Michigan and New York have a confortable summer feel. The date also is devised to avoid rusty swings, football season, weddings, mid-summer vacations, wedding anniversaries and April showers.

"This gives our group complete focus outside their families on the tournament, golf, and Golden Jacket," said Casale. "In closing, the Captains Club is looking forward to it's 11th major championship even if it is more than a year away. A venue announcement is expected in early November."

The Captains Club now moves their focus to a 2011 tournament location. The major championship is expected to make a move into the Appalachian Mountains, Kentucky, or Riverfront Golf Club in Suffolk, VA. Carl Spackler has been trucking around in search of the perfect golf experience. Carl understands the importance of a quality track, services, and local entertainment.