July 29, 2012

SNOWSHOE, WV — The #1 event in amateur golf added West Virginia to its growing venue list and also brought aboard a new requirement for its players effective June 10, 2012. The Carl Spackler Open will require golfers attending to submit at least 2 scorecards between June 10, 2012 and their 2013 signing date.

"The Carl Spackler Open has a new requirement," says Chairman of the Captains Club Greg Long. "The Captains Club is no longer accepting registrations without at least two scorecards posted online at poststats.com. Scorecards must be posted after June 10, 2012. This is a long-term move towards improving the golf event."

Golfers are encouraged to pre-register. Golfers can also pay their non-refundable non-transferrable deposit, however registrations and deposits will not be accepted until the scorecard requirement is met. There are 24 golfers who have met the 2 scorecard requirement.

"This is going to be a work in progress," says Greg Long. "We understand people are busy and also realize the scorecard requirement will most likely result in smaller attendance moving forward. The change is a step forward towards 2020 and beyond. We plan to reassess the scorecard requirement and late-entries this winter and make changes as needed."

The Carl Spackler Open has been held for 12 years in 10 different states with 194 different players. The 4-day event has been held in mid-April and early-June for the past 11 years. The Captains Club is expecting a jump in attendance this coming year to be offset by the new requirement and new event date.

In a joint message, the Captains Club inserted another venue option into the mix. The group added one of the best courses in the state of West Virginia. The Gary Player designed course, Raven at Snowshoe Mountain, is the third option for 2013. The wonderful golf facility is located in the middle of nowhere, but perfectly centered between the vast majority of past players.

Situated in the valley of the Allegheny Mountain Range, The Raven Golf Club at Snowshoe is a true mountain course offering spectacular views with elevation changes on some holes measuring over 200 feet from tee to green. The award-winning Gary Player designed course is a resort friendly course. The greens are big ranging from 6,000-7,000 square feet. Four tee boxes were used to accommodate all abilities. The most golfer friendly feature is the mounding lining the edges of the holes. All mounds were designed to push errant balls back into play and onto the fairways.

The mountainside gem flows effortlessly through the hills and valleys of the surrounding skill hill. During construction, they moved less than 375,000 cubic yards of dirt. We like to think Gary designed the course and Mother Nature built it.

At an elevation of 4,848 feet above sea level, Snowshoe Mountain Resort offers golf enthusiasts a mountaintop Village to enjoy throughout their visit. Featuring 1,400 comfortably appointed rooms, the Village is also home to numerous restaurants options and stunning sunsets.

Notable Holes

Hole #3 - The Par 3 is of moderate length (127 yards), but drops precipitously to a tabletop green fronted by a ravine. Perversely, it plays shorter than it measures, so that safe shots land on a steep, grassy hill behind the green or in a bunker. The green is tiered, so your chip off the hill can roll 10 yards to the lower level.

Hole #4 - The fourth hole features the most dramatic elevation drop. The best advice Galford gave was to let you playing partners tee off first to see how the wind and elevation will affect the ball. The fairway descends 250 feet below the tee and tee shots will average a hang time of 15-20 seconds.

Hole #5 - The number 1 handicapped hole climbs back up the ridge. From the tee, you will have to negotiate a mature tree sprouting from the middle of the fairway 220 yards out. Pick a side that will position your second shot to layup in front of a stream cutting at base of the hill. Note there is more room to left. As an aside, from the tee box you have a distance view of the skill hill and mountain lodge. At that moment you are nearly 1600 feet below the mountain village

Hole #9 - A classic risk versus reward hole awaits at this drivable par four. Before reaching for a club, look for the stick as the hole features dual greens. Ed shared that in the inaugural round Gary Player called every shot before he hit it. "On this hole Gary called a green ball and stuck it close. He rimmed his eagle putt to which he announced a birdie is a great score on this hole," Ed recalled.

Hole #13 - Gordon McHugh, Head Pro claimed this as his favorite. "This hole is my favorite because double dog leg left par 5 that offers up some risk versus reward opportunities. If you bomb a driver you have a decision to make. If you think you can hit a 200 yard, all-carry shot over water you will get home in two. When I go for it, it feels like golf's version of kicking a field goal," smiled Gordon.

"We have been patiently waiting for a golf course in West Virginia to become aggressive with their bid," says Captains Club member Greg Long. "We almost waited a decade, but very impressed with the 2013 bid."

The Raven features two of the finest risk/reward holes in the nation.  The course opens with a 557-yard par five on which a drive right of the fairway will hide in deep woods, the second shot must cross a gnarly stream bed to a skimpy plateau, and the approach drops to a green surrounded by foliage.

"The Captains Club is very intregued with the location being 5 to 6 hours from the vast majority of our senior members," says Long. "The lodging distance to nightly entertainment is 44 seconds. The distance between lodging and 4th green is 250 yards; clubhouse is 90 seconds. There are several other restaurants and bars on the property."

The 2013 Carl Spackler Open is expecting 50 to 60 golfers. The venue list includes the Raven, Chapel Ridge in North Carolina and Sultan's Run in Indiana. The event is expected to be moved from its traditional June date to May 15-18, 2013. A decision on date and venue will be made prior to Halloween.