April 30, 2003

ASHTABULA, OH — Basic in design and gaudy gold in color, the Golden Jacket still has a cachet all its own. Though better suited a night on the beach than the fashion runways, few sport coats are more coveted than the Golden Jacket. Only registered players of the Carl Spackler Open Championship have a chance to wear it.

As the 3rd Carl Spackler Open golf tournament tees off in June, we take a look at ?the jolly Golden Jacket? and the mystique surrounding it. ?It's a really big deal because of the tradition and prestige associated with owning it for a full year,? says Jamie Myers, local golfer and CEO of the Captains Club. ?It's the symbolism surrounding it that makes it so special,? says Myers, who golfs at least once a week, weather permiting.

?From a fashion standpoint, I don't think anyone would reach for it based solely on color or style,? he says. ?The gold looks a little off to me. It might be difficult to match a tie to it.?

Rookie Chad Long, says while there's some debate about which tournament is considered toughest to win, there's no disputing which jacket most golfers would love to own. Everybody wants the gold one,? says Long of Westerville, Ohio. ?But if I had one, I wouldn't wear it just any place. People who aren't in golf circles wouldn't know what it meant. They'd just think I was some crazy guy in a flashy gold jacket.?

What's flashy to some, however, is a mark of flair to others. That three-button, single-breasted, center vent jacket has received kudos from the most unlikely source.

The first Golden Jacket was awarded to Carl Spackler Champion in 2001. Greg Long put that one on at tournament's end.  Trojanowski followed Slick in 2002 by winning the prestigous award.  Traditionally, the champion takes his jacket home with him for one year, then returns it to the following tournament to be given to the next winner.

CFO Rick Dosky declined to reveal how much it costs to make the Golden Jacket. ?That's something you can't really put a price tag on anyway,? he says. ?It's not about how cheaply or expensively it's made, but what it stands for to the person wearing it.?