Eaglesticks Conflicts
July 13, 2013
ZANESVILLE, OH — The Carl Spackler Open announced today that Eaglesticks Golf Club, approximately 60 minutes east of Columbus, OH, has been scouted and removed as a possibility for the 2014 event location.
"We received a call this past week confirming a very common reality," says Chairman of the Captains Club Greg Long. "The golf course lacks availability for 370 rounds over 4 days. The date is the primary question before anything else. Approximately 60 percent of courses do not have availability."
The event continues to explore other opportunities in Indiana, Ohio, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, and South Carolina. Florida was scouted this summer for a future event, but sources close to the Captains Club say there is little chance of Florida in 2014.
Eaglesticks was considered a great opportunity as it boasts a fantastic golf course, ideal location to its field of players, and met a dozen event requirements.
Dr. Michael Hurdzan, one of the nation's most renowned architects, created Eaglesticks that includes plush, bentgrass fairways and greens, protected by a total of 90 sand bunkers. With more than 100 feet of elevation change, most tee boxes are located on the highest ground, so golfers would be treated to panoramic views on most holes before hitting down to the fairways.
"It's very rolling and there is an elevation change on every hole," says Kelly Morrow, former head professional, now General Manager at EagleSticks. "There is not a lot of water on the course â just a couple of holding ponds that come into play and a couple of streams that meander through the property. And from the standpoint of playing the course, we have very healthy bluegrass rough that is thick and demanding.
"We're not a long golf course," Morrow adds, "but because of the undulating greens and the severity of our rough -- if you don't play from the right spots,it's hard to get the ball close to the hole."
The 2014 Carl Spackler Open continues the scouting process through the summer with a venue decision expected before Halloween. The Golf Club at Chapel Ridge leads the venue list.
