June 7, 2011

BARNESVILLE, PA — Captains Club member Mike Trojanowski, a.k.a. Troj, was found at Conewango Valley Country Club swimming pool practicing his cannon balls and belly flops in a very hot Warren County. The winner of 2002 Carl Spackler Open was confronted as one participant with Mountain Valley experience. The topic was simple. What is the key to the Golden Jacket?

"That is a great question," said a very red bellied Trojanowski. "Give me a moment to get out of the pool and grab some notes. I will get us some beers so we can discuss."

[Troj exits the pool, enters the snack shack, and returns with 12 beers.]

"It is freekn hot out here," said Troj.

"There was an extreme focus on water hazards last year in Texas and positioning at Poplar Grove. This year's jacket has everything to do with hitting the ball straight up the gut. Not once or twice, but consistently hole after hole and day after day."

Mountain Valley Golf Course is located in the Applachian Mountain range.

"The place is brutually tight in many places," says Troj. "The front nine of the Mountain course will be described as 'wide open' this week only because of the closterphobic nature of the remaining 27 holes. The front of Mountain is as tight as anything we have played since Thunder Hill back in 2003."

Senior member Nick Casale visited Mountain Valley this spring. "We lost a half dozen balls playing Valley's 4th hole," said Casale. "It has to be the tightest tournament hole ever played since joining the Carl Spackler Open in 2005. We left the 4th green just excited to be done with it.

I turned the corner at the 5th tee and was stunned. The 5th hole of Valley is even tighter. You tee out of a chute," says Casale. (picture shown) "It takes guts to build holes like this. Good luck everyone."

Rick Dosky mastered Mountain Valley in June 2005. "Dosky can confirm you must hit the ball straight to place well," says Troj. "The club that goes straight is the club you hit regardless of yardage."

The decisions players make on the tee boxes and fairways will certaintly help or hurt everyone. Club choice is important and yardage to hole is very secondary.

[Troj looks down at his belly in discomfort.]

"Does that hurt," asked a reporter referring to his red belly. Troj replied, "Yes, but it is all worth it if I can win the belly flop contest this year."

"There is no swimming pool at the hotel or golf course," said a reporter.

An embarrassed Troj looked at his belly and replied, "Oh. I thought... [pause] Nevermind."

The 2011 Carl Spackler Open begins Thursday with the annual practice round. There are 55 golfers expected to arrive as early as tomorrow night. There are 97 golfers expected to play Thursday evening.