November 1, 2025

DUNNELLON, FL — The Carl Spackler Open, renowned as the #1 amateur golf tournament in the United States, has officially entered Phase 1 of its highly anticipated Roster Acceptance process. The Captains Club has begun the meticulous task of building the participant list for the 25th annual event scheduled to take place in Dunnellon, Florida five months from now.

Chairman of the Captains Club, Greg Long, emphasized the significance of this phase, stating, "It's time to start building our roster for our Florida event. Registrants listed under the Phase 1 of the Roster Worksheet have been added as participants. Unpaid pending participants have until the 21st of November to pay their $200 deposit."

A total of 35 registrants have been granted an official roster spot. A total of 11 unpaid pending registrants have three weeks, to secure their place by making the required deposit. Failure to receive a full $200 deposit in November will result in the unregistering of pending participants.

Captains Club Chief Financial Officer, Rick Dosky, explained, "The Carl Spackler Open requires $200 deposits. Deposits for accepted participants are non-refundable and non-transferrable starting five months prior to each event."

Phase 1 encompasses a diverse range of players, including Captains Club, volunteers, special exemptions, special award winners, favorite playing partners, our latest past champions, highest contribution grades, and highest attendance grades. The order in which each event roster is constructed is determined by the information provided in the Roster Worksheet, a comprehensive list of past participants available during the registration process and inside the website notebook.

"Unregistered golfers who missed the Phase 1 deadline have the opportunity to be accepted at the beginning of Phase 2 if registered by November 30," revealed Captains Club member Matt Pritchard. "Registering on March 2 misses the deadline for Phase 2 entry."

The three-phase administrative process involves adding a group of registrants as pending participants at the start of each month (or phase), processing received payments, and unregistering unpaid participants at the end of each month (or phase). The participants' webpage will identify pending participants with unpaid deposits, although the majority of registrants have already paid upon registration, streamlining the calendar management process.

With the 2026 Carl Spackler Open slated to unfold in Florida in six months, organizers anticipate a participation of 72 to 76 golfers in this landmark 25th edition. The first set of participant options and subsequent phases will roll out in the coming months, building excitement among golf enthusiasts and setting the stage for another thrilling tournament experience.