May 6, 2014

MOUNT STERLING, KY — The 2014 Carl Spackler Open will begin in little over a week in Kentucky. The 54-hole tournament will host 67 golfers and 13 rookies. The Captains Club announced the single rule change for the 14th tournament. They did so from their media tent in Mount Sterling, KY.

"We have modified the eligibility for the senior tee," says Greg Garrett, Vice President of Scoring. "A committee was created over the fall to discuss the senior tee. That committee studied everything at their disposal and made a change."

The Captains Club sought analysis after seniors dominated the 2013 tournament in Snowshoe, WV. Seniors finished in 7 of the Top 8 positions. The Final Leaderboard in order was a senior, a senior, a golfer, a senior, a senior, a senior, a senior, and a senior.

"After detailed analysis, we have decided seniors are no longer golfers who 50 years of age," said Garrett. "Eligibility for the senior tee is now 50 years of age and at least a +15 stroke handicap."

The senior tee could effect as many as 6 golfers depending on whether they had played the senior tee despite their age. Bobby Owens, Marty Whalen, Rob Hench, Ron Saxe, Bruce Saxe, and Kent Laake will play from the tournament tee despite their age.

The senior tee was added to the Carl Spackler Open in 2006 after a 70-year old participant in 2005 could not carry the marsh at Mountain Valley. "We added a senior tee with no detailed examination of statistics," says Greg Long. "This was our error and the senior tee required a modification to level the playing field."

The senior tee allows more experienced (older) golfers to move up from the tournament tee. The tournament tee is not a specific color, but 18 holes that totals 6,450 yards.

"The senior tee helps me tremendously," says Tom Henkel of Grand Rapids, MI. "It gives me a fighting chance against these brutual tournament courses. Looking forward to next week."

The Carl Spackler Open will be held at Old Silo Golf Club. Golfers are expected to arrive as early as Tuesday. The practice range will open on Wednesday at 12:30pm. A player meeting will be held on Wednesday evening. A cornhole tournament has been established and will he held on Thursday.