March 23, 2005

POTTSVILLE, PA — In today?s modern, technologically advanced world, information is craved instantaneously. The masses thirst for stories the moment something breaks. What once took hours or even days to deliver the who, what, where and when of a story now requires just seconds to be transferred to media outlets.

Thanks to communication tools like the Internet, a simple click of the mouse is all anyone needs to receive a plethora of knowledge.

And the Carl Spackler Open is no stranger to this information evolution. In fact, a simple PDA device can move massive amounts of data around and create reports and sort thousands of statistics in seconds. It all makes you wonder what anyone did before the microchip.

Today, Spackler relies on the wireless Internet connection that ties directly into the Spackler database.  In turn feeds thousands of scores into leaderboards and thousands of scorecards.

Besides recording the hole-by-hole scoring at each major, the Captains Club track Red Tee Lottery, daily weather reports, raw score, daily skins, and Long Putt information.  Those statistics are driven by detailed player bios, statistical history, and course information.  

"I always knew there was a way to make touranments automated," said Tom McCauley. "The first event we did not use it, but there was only 9 guys in Myrtle Beach.  I could not imagine a 3-round, 70-guy tournament with pencil.  That is indeed scary."

Mike Certo also loves the scoring technology.  "My entire office arrives early in the morning just to review the scores posted," says Certo.  "My friends also watch the progress all week.  When I return to work on Monday, they already know the facts."

This year's tournament in Barnesville, PA is expected to process 3,672 scores.  It will also include approximately 3,672 long putts.  All of this information will be linked to detailed player information, sorted, and reported in just 5 seconds.

"What we see is nothing compared to what must be happening behind the scenes," says Mike Davis. "Everyone wants the scores and they want them quickly.  Our tournament has exceeded expectations time and time again.  I love computers."