May 25, 2009

AMHERST, VA — Poplar Grove Golf Club, the final design of golf legend Sam Snead, was chosen to host the 2009 Carl Spackler Open Championship. On behalf of the Captains Club, Greg Long, Greg Garrett, and Kevin Long, continued to provide the detail surrounding the tournament course.

Greg Long continued through the tournament course with the 13th hole, "Playing Favorites", which is a downhill 150-yard Par 3. "The worst or most boring hole at Poplar Grove," says Greg Long. "The hole will play favorites, but not after you get on this green. It is a 4-putt waiting to happen."

The tee is on top of small hill with the green at the bottom on a gradual hillside for the next tee box. The green is 128 to 172 yards from the tee box.

"This hole is very deceiving," says Greg Garrett. "It is the largest green on the course and getting behind the hole is big trouble. The downhill hole requires the 115-to-160-yard club to get your ball on the green. The problem is hitting the 150-yard club does not help you unless the pin is in the middle."

There is a stream at the bottom of the short valley. The ravine is not in play unless players hack their ball off the tee.

Kevin Long, Jr. added, "This is the largest green at Poplar Grove. I would suggest there is more sand than putting surface so players must be straight off the tee or will be penalized with a bunker shot."

The green is oval shaped pointing 12:00 on a clock. The green is 45 yards or 135 feet deep. "The green depth is very desceptive from the tee box," says Kevin Long, Jr.. "This hole has a very fast green when putting from the back to front. It rolls like Augusta."

There are two sand traps; all greenside; left and right. Both bunkers are nearly 40 yards deep from the tee box.

"The 13th hole, Playing Favorites, is similar to the 12th at the Grande, but much shorter," says Greg Garrett. "Yardage off the tee is everything here."

SCORE SUMMARY: Slick played the 13th hole even through two days. Double G played +2 through two days. Winger played +1 through one day. The USGA handicap suggests the 3rd easiest hole and the Captains Club suggests the 5th easiest hole with 5 rounds +0.6 strokes over par.

"I'll be hitting the PW, 9, or 8-iron depending on pin placement," says Greg Long. "I recommend almost everyone else to club up."

The 2009 Carl Spackler Open Championship will begin its annual practice round on Wednesday, June 10. There are 74 participants expected for the 9th annual event. In other local news, the electric golf carts at Poplar Grove will have GPS's on them.