August 28, 2011

PITTSBORO, NC — The #1 tournament in amateur golf brought aboard one of the best kept secrets in public golf on Friday. The Fred Couples designed course, Chapel Ridge, joins the short 2012 venue list. The wonderful golf facility is located just northwest of downtown Pittsboro, NC.

"This place is a future Carl Spackler Open venue just waiting to happen," says Captains Club member Jeremy Myers. "Everything about this place screams Spackler."

Chapel Ridge Golf Club combines the course design talents of Bob Moore and the player design skills of Fred Couples. The rolling hills land has been molded into a championship course reminiscent of the old traditional courses found in the United States.

"Where do you start with this kind of setup," says a very satisfied Jeremy Myers after his round in April 2011. "There are 14 or 15 signature-style holes out there. The facility is manicured wonderfully and far from boredom."

Myers joined Greg Long, Chris Milam, and Mark Palmer last April for a scouting trip. The group played 90 holes over four days.

"The buses would pass the Carolina Brewery on the way to the course everyday," says Myers. "The brewery is probably 4 minutes from the golf course and yes... they have tours."

The setup includes hotels and entertainment from Apex, NC or Burlington, NC. The single disappointment is distance to lodging.

"The starting hole at Chapel Ridge rivals the greatness of Rock Hollow," says Chairman of the Captains Club Greg Long. "The course delivers pleasure early and often. It is not Poplar Grove in Amherst, VA, however it does have 'this is a great hole' whispers at least 14 times."

Long added, "The setting surrounding the practice facility is probably the best ever experienced anywhere. The clubhouse is a rectanglar building with a large backside patio with rocking chairs. You step off the patio onto a very large flat range. The large putting green is adjacent. One of the best practice facilities ever designed.

You flip the nines and clearly have the best finishing hole in Carl Spackler Open history. The 9th from the tee and as a fan at the green is pretty awesome."

The venue was considered strong prior to visit, but really surprised Myers and Long. "Chapel Ridge is a top notch opportunity," says Long. "The idea of returning to North Carolina was not top of mind until this experience. It quickly rose to the top of the venue list."

Chapel Ridge Golf Club has been added to the 2012 venue list. It joins Conklin Players Club in New York and Wisp in Maryland as options for the 2012 Carl Spackler Open. A decision on venue will be announced prior to Halloween.