July 18, 2010

SCRANTON, PA — The Carl Spackler Open Championship has been held for 10 years in 8 different states with 157 different players. The 4-day event has been held in mid-April and early-June for the past 9 years. The Captains Club in their throw-back-jerseys reaffirmed the event date for the 2011 Carl Spackler Open.

The Captains Club announced the 11th annual event will return to the 2nd weekend of June. This is June 9-12, 2011, which is 11 days after Memorial Day and 7 days prior to Father's Day.

"A date sounds simple and without thought," says Don Creighton. "But a lot of guys will make excuses in December if the date is not stationary and announced nearly a year in advance."

Jay Dilks continued to read the press document. "The club picked the 2nd week of June again for its 7th year," said Dilks. "The event date will move to late-May at some point, but the next installment of the Carl Spackler Open will return to its traditional date in June."

There are no conflicts with Boulder Creek in Ohio, Conklin Players Club in New York, or Mountain Valley in Pennsylvania. The known conflict with the traditional weekend continues to be future high school graduations. A secondary event date was chosen in March 2010, which will eventually move the event up in the calendar by three weeks.

"You would not believe the conflicts with almost every weekend between April and October," says Kevin Long, Jr. "The worst weekend is late-June. There are four Captains Club June wedding anniversaries after Fathers Day and almost half the club is not married. The first half of July is also full of conflicts."

The Captains Club polled the 88 golfers who attended the 2009 Carl Spackler Open in Virginia. There were 3 proposed conflicts with the 3rd weekend in May, which was the best secondary weekend of choice.

"We love our bermuda grass very green and our northern oaks in full bloom," says Jeremy Myers. "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 90-degree temperatures in Williamsburg, Virginia during mid-April. The championship moved to its current home in June 2003. The 2010 event was temporarily moved to April for a once-in-a-decade golf trip to southern Texas."

The date of choice ensures incredibly hot temperatures are avoided 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 Jeremy Myers.

"In closing, the Captains Club is looking forward to it's 11th major championship." Dilks then departed with Creighton to a local pub to discuss the 'stroke-and-distance' rule.

The Captains Club now moves their focus to a 2011 tournament location. The major championship is expected to make a move to Ohio or back to Interstate 81. Carl Spackler continues to truck around in search of the perfect golf experience.

The next Carl Spackler Open will be held on June 9-12, 2011. There are 72 to 88 participants expected for the 4-day national championship.