August 20, 2017

PITTSBORO, NC — The #1 tournament in amateur golf brought aboard one of the best kept secrets in public golf on Sunday. The Fred Couples designed course, Chapel Ridge, joins the short 2018 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 in 2010 for a scouting trip. Jim Graham rescouted the golf course in 2015.

"Golfers would pass the Carolina Brewery on the way to the course," 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, but golfers would understand the sacrifice after playing the golf course.

"The starting hole at Chapel Ridge rivals the greatness of Rock Hollow," says Chairman of the Captains Club Greg Long. "The golf course is one of the ten best that I have played. 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 we have ever scouted.

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 is considered a strong option. "Chapel Ridge is a top notch opportunity," says Long. "The idea of returning to North Carolina is something the event needs to do. Chapel Ridge quickly rose to the top of the venue list and remains there."

Chapel Ridge Golf Club opens the 2018 venue list. A decision on date and venue will be made in the future. There is a push for June 6-9, 2018.