January 31, 2003

ASHTABULA, OH — The Carl Spackler Open was played in Williamsburg last spring, but things have changed with a move to Madison, Ohio, the Captain?s Club said.  Not only a move to Ohio, but a move to golf course that will host the 2003 major. This golf club is The Reserve at Thunder Hill.

"We had come down to a short list of lead candidates for the 2003 Open," Captain?s Club spokesman Jay Dilks told The Star-Ledger of Newark for Thursday editions. "The financial talks are ongoing, but a final decision was made on the venue."

"We knew with so many great clubs it was going to be a very competitive process," Dilks said. "I thought we had wrapped [our bid] pretty tight. But you never know how people are going to look at things. All I can say for now is we're going to continue our conversations and we hope for the best."

Along with a low 54-hole group rate, the Captain?s Club has added complementary range balls each day of play along with a ?one of a kind? closest to the pin contest.  Thursday and Friday should include a sleeve of golf balls and a hotdog at the turn.

The Reserve at Thunder Hill has a stunning layout that plays to a monstrous 7,504 yards from the "Thunder Tees", but the five different sets of tees play to all handicaps.  The layout features 81 sand bunkers, grass bunkers, grass hollows, sloping mounds, natural wetlands, various trees and 72 bodies of water.  The unique balance makes for a serene and tranquil setting.

The Carl Spackler Open Championship will be played this summer between June 12 and June 14. A full itinerary and funding breakdown is available within the website.  The trip will require four full kitchen passes and currently has signed 26 players.