May 24, 2012

CONKLIN, NY — Don Creighton was playing a Thursday practice round for the 2011 Carl Spackler Open when the awful truth hit him like a 7-iron between the windshield wipers of his Chevrolet Cavalier: He had absolutely no idea what he was doing.

"He was totally lost," Jay Dilks said outside the clubhouse at Mountain Valley. "I mean, he was hitting it very, very poorly. Just no confidence at all."

Creighton with the help of Dilks decided to go in a new direction: Creighton would think less about technique, and instead play each shot on the driving range as if he were on the course. He improved as the week went on, and three days after he couldn't hit it out of his shadow, Creighton shot 57 points in the final round to grab a spot in the Top 20.

Dilks is quick to point out that Creighton's lack of practice prior to a major is poisoning his golf game. Dilks says, "If you don't have it when you show up to the course, you're not going to find it there, especially not the week of a major." In the days before an important tournament, players are doing far more than simply looking for a key move that will fetch the big cardboard check. They are toeing the line between playing enough and too much; playing well and too well; focusing on their games and soaking up the technique and strategy of their playing partners.

The 2012 Carl Spackler Open will host its practice round on Wednesday, June 6. Don Creighton made a late decision to attend the practice round he was unaware he had paid for in April. Jay Dilks will also participate after closing the event registration table.

The practice round is set to begin at 2:00PM EST with a shotgun start. The round will consist of 19 holes including two 7th holes. The 7th hole is a par 3.

"We are playing 19 holes for the first time in 12 years," says Dilks. "The owner of Conklin Players Club designed a 19th hole two years ago (7C). The hole was added to a rotating schedule with 7A and 7B."

Conklin Players Club (see picture) has three different 7th holes.

The far left yellow line represents 7C. The new hole is an approximately 180-yard downhill hole out of a chute of trees and over a pond to a very tricky green.   The left to right yellow line represents 7A and the oldest hole. This par 3 requires a long iron downhill tee shot to the largest green on the course. The hole is protected by bunkers in front and a steep bank to the right, which leads straight down to the lake.

The remaining yellow line starts behind the 6th green (7B). This tee was added to the course several years after the golf course opened. The tee shot is played from an elevated tee across a ravine to a green angle that makes distance control a premium. Wind direction and strength can really affect the shot.

"The practice round only will be played with 19 holes," says Jay Dilks. "Most likely Hole 6, Hole 7c, Hole 7a, and then Hole 8. The 54-hole tournament will be played once from each Hole 7."

The 2012 Carl Spackler Open pairings and rooming list are released on the website. There are 62 golfers expected for the practice round and 64 golfers participating in the golf tournament. The winner will take home a Golden Jacket.