Some trophies, clubs and awards won last year should be engraved where appropriate and brought back for annual distribution. Please see Jason Watson in regards to any award.

Kitchen Pass Award
Crapper Award
Skills Challenge Award
Horses Ass Trophy
Rookie of the Year
Championship Trophy
Ms. Lacey Underall Sash
Webb Plaque
Rusty Rod Plaque
Golden Rod Plaque

Past winners should return with their Golden Jacket.

Laguna Vista, TX averages a high temperature of 79 degrees on April 15. Laguna Vista, TX averages a low temperature of 68 degrees on April 15. Laguna Vista averages 1.79 inches of rain in April. The amount of rain is 65 percent less than Pennsylvania in June.

The 54-hole tournament has experienced completely dry conditions once in 9 years. The tournament will be played in rain, but not in a heavy downpour. The tournament could be adjusted to 36 holes on Saturday or Sunday due to bad weather. Please use your daily pairing sheets and common sense. The Skills Challenge and 4-man Scramble in this order will be activities removed from the itinerary if needed. The tournament can also be adjusted for 27 holes on Friday if heavy rain is expected on Saturday. The Daily Pairing Sheets will be updated every night.

Very wet conditions prior to the tournament can attract an obscene amount of mosquitos. It is recommended that players obtain plenty of insect repellent for MULTIPLE golfers if the golf course receives lots of rain prior to arrival. Absorbine Jr. works well.

The cooler morning temperatures could require a pullover jacket. Umbrellas, drizzle sticks, rain suits and towels should be packed.

The following consists of two lists that you might want to bring along on the trip. The second list are items received at a previous Carl Spackler Open. These items will not be provided by the Captains Club.

GOLF ITEMS
1. Shampoo
2. Golf Clubs
3. Cigars & Cigarettes
4. Sunglasses
5. Ball Retriever
6. Medical Tape, Bandaids, Sunscreen, Chapstick
7. Cash
8. Umbrella
10. Bug Spray or Absorbine Jr.
11. Golf Shoes (soft spikes)
12. Golf Clothes (the course requires proper golf attire. Please review dress code note)
13. Golf Gloves (extra for potential rain)
14. Digital Camera
15. Golf Towels, plenty in case it is wet.
16. Golf Balls
17. Belt
18. Evening Clothes
19. Swimsuit.
20. Mow your lawn.
21. Koozie to keep your drink cool.
22. Phone numbers of your ride to/from airport.
23. Powder or Boxer Briefs to guard against chaffing.
24. Watch, bracelet, or chain.
25. Print this entire notebook for the airplane.
26. Toothpaste & Toothbrush.
27. $23 cash needed for taxi service.
28. Weigh Zipped Travel Bag for 50lb limit.

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CARL SPACKLER OPEN ITEMS
1. Carl Spackler Open Baseball Hats
2. Windbreaker or 2006 Carl Spackler Open Pull Over
3. 2005 and 2007 Carl Spackler Open Golf Shirts
4. 2006 Carl Spackler Open Cartoon T-shirt
5. 2007 2-pack Personal Cooler
6. 2008 Carl Spackler Open valuables bag
7. 2004 Carl Spackler Open Gopher Headcover
8. 2009 Carl Spackler Open Golf Towel
9. 2009 Carl Spackler Open Golf Umbrella
10. Horses Ass Headcovers
11. Engraved trophies you won last year. Horses Ass, Kitchen Pass, Championship, Webb, Skills Challenge.
12. Golden Jacket.

The golf course has a dress code policy. Golf shirts along with bermuda shorts are required. T-shirts, jogging apparel or denim of any kind is prohibited. Only soft spike golf shoes are allowed on the golf course, practice green, and driving range.

The tournament handicapping uses Poststats Points. These points are completely independent of Virtual Tournament handicaps. They will be updated and printed in early June.

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The handicap system is based on posted scorecards to the website, USGA Slope Rating, and yardage played. The USGA Slope Rating is a number (between 55 and 155) given to each tee box in America by the USGA. The number represents the difficulty to the average bogey golfer. The average USGA Slope Rating in America is 115.

Poststats.com uses total yardage played and USGA Slope Rating to apply a "course bonus" to each tee box in America. These bonus points are used to level the course difficulty and handicap each golfer participating in the Carl Spackler Open. The course bonus is not used at the Carl Spackler Open since all participants are playing the same course.

Each golfer is required to post 4+ scorecards to participate in the Carl Spackler Open. The handicap system and computer will use the last 15 posted scorecards regardless of year to determine a golfer handicap. The handicap system will omit the best scorecard and four worst scorecards from the previous 15 posted scorecards. It will tally the average number of birdies, pars, bogeys, double-bogeys, and triple-bogeys for each golfer. (Eagles are converted to birdies.)

The "personal profile" for each golfer has a date field for health setbacks. This field is used for heart attacks, strokes, broken legs, surgeries, and anytime past scorecards are not a representation of a golfer's skill level. The computer does not use scorecards prior to the date entered.

The goal of the handicap system is for each participant to score 60 points per round with their course bonus. For each golfer, the computer will use averages per round (birdie, par, bogey, double-bogey, triple-bogey) described above and cross check the database of 250 different "sets of points" for a set of points that will position each golfer to score 60 points. (Remember course bonus is not used at the Carl Spackler Open.)

The chances of one unknown high handicapped golfer dropping 30% of their strokes per hole over a 54-hole period is more than probable.

Poststats.com added "target points" to the handicapping system in the winter of 2007. The computer started raising point targets for the best golfers while still rewarding the high handicappers.
The lower the stroke handicap, the more target points a golfer will receive. Golfers with a stroke handicap of +8 to +11 receive an elevated target to 62 points per round. Participants with a handicap +6 to +8 strokes are bumped to 63 points per round. Handicaps of +6 strokes have target of 64 points and +5 strokes get 65 points. Golfers with a handicap of +2 are targeted at 65 points per round. Jason Ridgeway presently has a negative stroke handicap and receives 67 points.

In addition to golf skill, golfers who play the same course 70 percent of the time will be given an elevated target of 1 point. This change also came in 2007. These "home course" participants will be given 2 points if they play the same course 90 percent of the time. These golfers statistically slip when leaving their home course. The point upgrade allows the entire tournament field to handicapped equally and remove scoring based on extensive course knowledge.

Poststats.com added another target increase in the winter of 2009 as a step to decrease Top 10 volatility and reward participants for posting scorecards. Golfers who post 7+ scorecards per year (365 days) including past events registered with Poststats.com will receive an additional target point. Golfers who post 12+ scorecards will receive an elevation of target by 2 points. Jason Ridgeway's point target jumps to 69 points (A player) and Rick Dosky's (D player) point target jumps to 62 points.

The statisical handicapping detail for each golfer is available online. Golfers can visit the homepage and click "HANDICAPS" in the lower menu. Then click on their name.

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4-MAN TEAM HANDICAPPING
The 4-man Scramble is handicapped using Poststats Points. The handicapping allows a team of five preferred partners regardless of skill to compete equally with a team of three preferred partners who experienced a last minute cancellation from their best player.

The computer handicaps a team by first determining the stroke handicap of the best player. As an example, Jason Ridgeway has a 0 handicap. The computer sets his team baseline handicap at 0. The computer then searches the team for its second best player. It uses hundreds of scramble statistics to determine the value of the 2nd best player. As an example, Mike Davis (A player) would contribute 7 strokes. The team baseline handicap is adjusted downward to -7 strokes. The computer searches the team for its third best player. As an example, Chad Long (C player) would contribute 3 strokes. The team baseline handicap adjusts downward to -10 strokes. The computer searches the team for its fourth and possibly fifth best player. It lowers the team stroke handicap to -12 strokes. Each stroke handicap from -22 to +22 have a corresponding set of Poststats Points. The points for the team are set.

The computer handicaps based on general scramble statistics and USGA Stroke Handicap Indexes. It does not handicap using driving distance per player or putting skills of each participant.

The golf tournament tee will be played from approximately 6,557 yards. Participants older than 50 years of age can move up one tee with no penalty.

LOST BALL OR POSSIBILITY OF LOST BALL: The first option is to hit a provisional from the original spot. Then play the provisional ball if your first ball cannot be found. The second option is to drop in the area of where it was last seen with a two-stroke penalty. If your 1st shot is lost, taking a drop where the ball was last seen means you are hitting your 4th shot.

OUT OF BOUNDS: Balls cannot be played or fetched when they cross the white-staked hazards. They are out of bounds. Your options are identical to the lost ball rule stated above.

RED STAKES: Balls CAN BE played from inside the red-staked hazards. By penalty of one stroke, you drop within two club lengths from where the ball crossed the stakes. Another option is to hit from the original spot with 1 stroke penalty. If your first shot went into the hazard, take a drop outside the red stakes and hit your 3rd shot.

YELLOW STAKES: Balls CAN BE played from inside the yellow-staked hazards. By penalty of one stroke, you may drop anywhere in the line of the shot including the original spot. If your first shot went into the hazard, take a drop in the line of your shot and hit your 3rd shot.

UNPLAYABLE LIES: A player may take an unplayable lie anywhere on the course including the middle of the fairway. By penalty of 1 stroke, a golfer must drop two club lengths no closer to the hole from the unplayable lie. Unplayable lies normally prohibit the free swing of the golf club.

FREE DROPS: A player may obtain free relief or drop from a fairway divot or a cart path. All man-made objects such as stakes, fences and signs receive a free drop with no penalty. Your partner should assist. Drops are no closer to the hole.

LONG PUTT: The longest putt made on each hole receives long putt points. The Captains Club strongly encourages putting out of turn when pace of play is jeopardized. Mark your distance proactively and putt when partners are not standing on the green or ready to play. Fringe putts and short chips do not count. If the longest putt is less than a putter length, the hole is voided and does not push. A putter should fit between the ball and the hole to be valid. Long putts cannot be longer than its previous putt.

GIMME: The Captains Club proudly supports two forms of gimme. (1) Golfers may take a gimme (one stroke) if scoring zero points on the hole. (2) If already taking a zero points on a hole, a golfer may drop with no penalty at the 100 yard red disc in the middle of the fairway. The gimme rule speeds up pace of play while still allowing for long putt points. All other forms of gimme are prohibited.

PAR 3's: The Carl Spackler Open DOES NOT permit players to use drop zones. Players who hit a ball into the water should move up a tee and tee off again. Eventually the player can take a 'gimme' as defined.

DO NOT TOUCH YOUR BALL UNLESS IT IS LYING MOTIONLESS ON THE GREEN. NO FLUFFING.

Each golf cart should fill out a scorecard for entire foursome. Both scorecards for each round will be given to Brian Long or Greg Garrett for scorecard integrity. This includes the practice round.

There will be 5,700+ scores plus long putts entered into a computer while on the golf trip. Please verify stroke totals on both scorecards balance. Golfers should validate stroke totals each night off computer reports to enhance scoring integrity. Please bring all scoring errors to the Brian Long and Greg Garrett.

It is the responsibility of existing members to explain long putts to rookies during the practice round.

The official event starts on Thursday, April 15 @ 11:00AM at South Padre Island Golf Club with access to the practice range. The event concludes with the Awards Dinner & Presentation on Sunday, April 18 @ 7:00PM at Bayside Cafe.

The trip itinerary is available online by clicking CALENDAR. The evenings are entirely based on pace of play at the golf course. The pace of play target is a maximum of 5 hours. The itinerary is based on 5 1/2 hours for 18 holes. The itinerary is pushed back depending on pace of play. Please use common sense when reviewing the evening itineraries on the daily pairing sheets.

There are 1 1/2 hours of tee times when the entire tournament tees from Hole 1. This 3-hour window (1 1/2 hours of tee times and 1 1/2 hours of finishing) of golfing time allows plenty of time for the tournament to get organized, practice, eat, take pictures, socialize, and score the tournament. The beer at the course is less expensive than the island.

Friday morning is jam packed with events requiring 100 percent attendance. Please follow the daily pairing sheets and be early or on-time.

The traditional itinerary is being shifted in 2010 with a goal of spending lots of beach time on Saturday, April 17, 2010. The 4-man Scramble has been pushed forward in the traditional sequence and will be played after Round 1. The top priority on Saturday is golf, however a secondary goal to finish golf and be on the beach by 2:30PM CST.

It takes about an hour to play 18 holes of golf. The other 2 ½ to 4 ½ hours is "logistical positioning" -- getting to the next shots with the right equipment. A golf tournament played by the rules (no gimmies, no fluffing, etc.) is not going to be completed in under 4 3/4 hours. Add hackers and add time.

It is important to note that the slowest group dictates the pace of play for everyone behind them. Any group that gets out of position -- especially early in the day -- will affect many groups after it. With that said...

The pairings are designed with "fun" as top priority and "pace of play" as a close second.

Skilled and faster golfers should educate and lead by example. Everyone needs to enjoy their round, but allow low handicappers to help move things along.

Raking bunkers for others, fixing divots for others, replacing divots for others, and carrying a pocket full of XL Top-Flites is being someone's caddy. It also is speeding up pace of play.

Hitting your own ball first, putting out of each hole, and even putting out of turn while someone is raking a greenside bunker can do wonders for pace of play.

None of the above requires a fellow golfer to play faster between pulling a club from the bag and swinging it. It does imply as a foursome we will work together to play faster.

Your foursome is playing slow if you cannot see the foursome in front of you.

Participants will see lots of Carl Spackler Open logo hats with many different colors. If you have a problem, please see someone with a red colored hat. One of them will help you. If you have a general question, please look for a red or blue hat. Blue colored hats are your participants with 3+ years of tournament experience.

Practice balls are included in the golf trip fee. Participants must check-in inside the pro shop each day before golfing. PARTICIPANTS SHOULD OBTAIN A SMALL BAG OF RANGE BALLS REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY WILL BE HITTING THEM. If you are not going to hit your balls, please place your bag on the range for others. The bags will come with 24 balls.

FORMAT
The 4-man Scramble will be played on Friday afternoon and evening after Round 1. It will be teed using a straight tee. We will be using Poststats Points to determine the winner.

The 4-man Scramble will be played as a traditional scramble with some exceptions. This event requires scorecards to be filled for each team by each team to ensure scorecard integrity.

All teams must pickup and move to the next hole when shooting for zero points. The sun will set at 7:53PM.

HANDICAPPING
The 4-man Scramble is handicapped using Poststats Points. The handicapping allows a team of five preferred partners regardless of skill to compete equally with a team of three preferred partners who experienced a last minute cancellation from their best player.

The computer handicaps a team by first determining the stroke handicap of the best player. As an example, Jason Ridgeway has a 0 handicap. The computer sets his team baseline handicap at 0. The computer then searches the team for its second best player. It uses hundreds of scramble statistics to determine the value of the 2nd best player. As an example, Greg Long would contribute 7 strokes. The team baseline handicap is adjusted downward to -7 strokes. The computer searches the team for its third best player. As an example, Chad Long would contribute 3 strokes. The team baseline handicap adjusts downward to -10 strokes. The computer searches the team for its fourth and possibly fifth best player. It lowers the team stroke handicap to -12 strokes. Each stroke handicap from -22 to +22 have a corresponding set of Poststats Points. The points for the team are set.

The computer handicaps based on general scramble statistics and USGA Stroke Handicap Indexes. It does not handicap using driving distance per player or putting skills of each participant.

The lodging for April 2010 is completely different than the past 8 years. Participants will be assigned a golf course condominium, which is secured behind guard(s) and gates. The condominiums are located 8 to 10 minutes from the clubhouse by foot. Participants will be assigned a condominium on the website. Participants can see condominium assignments by clicking on "ROOMS" and logging in.

All condominiums are located on Augusta West Drive, Torrey Pines Drive, Doral Drive, and Pinehurst Drive. An aerial view of the condos can be viewed below. The left yellow circle are the condos. The right yellow circle is the 18th green. The top circle is the clubhouse.

Each condominiums have driveway, garage, washer, dryer, full kitchen, living room with sofa, and patio. Each condominium comes with towels, shampoo, and soap. There is no daily maid service.

The $399 golf trip fee includes a twin bed or couch. The master bedrooms and upgraded beds were sold in February 2010 through the participant option process.

Participants have been assigned a condominium, which can be found by clicking the "ROOMS" link above. If you would like a virtual tour of your rental, visit 'spigolf.com' and click "RESORT RENTALS". Click on "Property List" and search for your condominium. There are lots of pictures and information provided for each property.

The following link contains the condominium key distribution schedule and key masters. Each participant will obtain their key from the rental office (next to the clubhouse), pro shop, guard shack (upon entering the clubhouse parking lot), or at the airport from their key master. Your key master should not look like the guy in the picture below.

Each participant is responsible for their key until departure. Keys and gate openers/garage door openers should be left in your kitchen upon departure for the airport. Please lock all doors.

Key Distribution

The golf course will store golf bags in the cart garage between your first round and last round of play. Participants who do not play golf on their arrival day are expected to store their golf bag inside their condominium.

A personalized Carl Spackler Open bagtag will be distributed to guys who require a bagtag.

The biggest problem with golf course bag storage happens when 'mentally spaced out' golfers leave their wallet or keys in their golf bag. Please do not leave expensive watches or equivalent in golf bags.

Daily Pairing Sheets contain tournament pairings, tee times, starting hole, leaderboard, contest information, schedule of events, transportation schedules and procedures, tournament rules, scoring procedures, player courtesies, entertainment information, golf handicap information, etc..

Pairing Sheets include important non-golf information.

The most important thing you can do to help the event is to secure your daily pairing sheet like your wallet. Secure it until you receive the next pairing sheet, which can be the following day. The large event is managed and coordinated daily from 6:00AM to 2:00AM using these pairing sheets. The sheets are tri-fold duplex designed for your back pocket and provide a well organized event.

Daily Pairing Sheets will no longer be distributed by Greg Long. Pairing Sheet printing and distribution is managed by Brian Long starting in 2010.

The first two days in Texas (April 14-15) will have a single pairing sheet. All information pertaining to April 14-15 will be communicated through a single Thursday, April 15 Practice Round Pairing Sheet. All information pertaining to April 18-19 will also be communicated through a single Sunday, April 18 Round 3 Pairing Sheet.

The initial Wed/Thur Pairing Sheet will be distributed on the airplane or arrival airport. Zavinski, Watson, and Luppino can see Brian Long for their first pairing sheet. The Friday, Saturday, and Sunday pairing sheet will be distributed inside the clubhouse at breakfast. There are only 3 or 4 extra copies printed and these are given to the golf course employees.

Unofficial tournament pairings will be available online in April 2010. Pairings are never final until you have a pairing sheet in your hand due to last minute changes.

Pairings for the final round on Sunday are set based on reverse leaderboard order through Round 2. Exactly like the PGA Tour with the exception of Chris Philipsen and Greg Garrett who will play first and score the tournament off the 18th green.

There are no guaranteed pairings for anyone attending with one exception. All rookies will play with their referral at least once.

The following is an explanation regarding roommates and golf pairings for the Carl Spackler Open. There will not be a collection of roommate preferences in 2010. Playing partner preferences will be collected when all participants are known.

The following is an explanation on how pairings and roommates are determined.

ROOMMATES
Rookies are assigned to their top preference. All other roommates are paired up using lodging upgrades, Wednesday night reservations, airport arrival, and 9 years of experience.

PLAYING PARTNERS
The daily golf pairings are not finalized until you have a pairing sheet in your hand. There are rounds of golf on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Friday afternoon, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. All pairings for all of these rounds will be built starting with the rookies and their top preference. The rest of the pairings will be based on the hundreds of preferences collected and then moved around for pace of play reasons. The goal is for golfers to never play golf more than twice with the same person.

Scheduled ground transportation for participants is included. There will be $4,000 spent on ground transportation while in Texas. The transportation medium was decided upon based on schedule flexiblity and potentially 45 intoxicated participants.

Participants can be transported over to South Padre Island based on the van schedule, however should assume the vans will remain on the island and be collected the following morning. PLEASE DO NOT PRESSURE OR ASK VAN DRIVERS ABOUT A RETURN RIDE.

The three vans will depart the golf course condominums using a schedule provided in the website and pairing sheet itineraries.

The three vans might stop at the liquor store on the way to the island Saturday afternoon.

The following map shows the location of Louie's Backyard, Coconuts, Tequlia Sunset, Amberjacks, and Parrot Eyes.

The following map shows the location of Wanna Wanna Beach Bar.

The most flexible transportation for returning participants to condominums is to provide a taxi service. Each participant should be carrying an extra $23 cash, which was distributed when the golf trip fee was dropped from $399 to $376 on February 18, 2010. The $23 cash is based on 3 guys per cab for 3 nights (Thursday, Friday, Saturday).

The chosen taxi service for the Carl Spackler Open, J.J. Taxi, has a large fleet of SILVER MINIVAN TAXIS that can transport 1 to 7 golfers. The one-way taxi fare from South Padre Island to your condominum is as follows. $20 for 1 golfer, $20 for 2 golfers, $23 for 3 golfers, $26 for 4 golfers, $29 for 5 golfers, $32 for 6 golfers, and $35 for 7 golfers. The phone number will be supplied inside the daily pairing sheet.

Participants who would like additional flexibility for getting to the island can use J.J. Taxi service.

Participants are welcome to independently travel to and from Laguna Vista SC (see the Laguna Vista SC note for explanation) at their convenience using "A Taxi" minivan taxi service. The taxi fare from SPIGC to Laguna Vista SC is $5 for two golfers and $9 for 4 golfers.

The 2010 event will return with Shop Carl during the Friday morning player meeting. The following items will be sold at the following prices. Special sized envelopes will be provided, but 'Shop Carl' will not provide change. Cash only and we cannot accept IOU's.

Logo Ball Markers - 3 for $4.00
Logo Baseball Cap - $14.00
Logo 2-pack Cooler - $14.00
Logo Valuables Bag - $12.00
Logo Caddy Towel - $20.00

The baseball hats are sold in yellow, white, black, bahama blue, and cool grey. The valuables bags are sold in black and tan.

The $399 golf trip fee will include four meals.

South Padre Island Golf Club will provide a buffet breakfast on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday morning inside the clubhouse. The breakfast will include scramble eggs, bacon, sausage, potato, pastries, toast, juice, and coffee. Gratuity at 20% was required and already paid.

The Sunday night awards dinner will contain the following menu...
Prime Rib, twice baked potato, dinner salad, choice of corn or green beans, dinner roll, water, ice-tea, and coffee. Participants are encouraged to bring all forms of alcohol with them.

Louie's Backyard, Wanna Wanna Beach Bar, and Amberjack's have a dinner menu.

The Bayside Cafe in Laguna Vista, TX is the chosen location for breakfast. The cafe will open at 6:30AM on April 15, 2010. Participants can find a less expensive quality breakfast.

Click here for the Bayside Cafe breakfast menu.

BREAKFAST
Coffee and juice will be included inside the clubhouse as part of breakfast.

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SUNDAY'S AWARDS DINNER
Water, ice-tea, and coffee are included as part of the Sunday awards dinner. Participants are encouraged to bring all forms of alcohol to the Awards Dinner.

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LIQUOR & BEER SALES
The Laguna Vista Shopping Center has a liquor store and carry out. Coastal Spirits is open 10:00AM to 9:00PM, but closed Sunday, April 18. The store will provide a 10% discount to any participant who can provide the register the Carl Spackler Open logo. This can be a shirt, hat, or even a pairing sheet.

HEB Grocery and Island View convenience store sell beer. They do not sell beer on Sunday prior to 12:00PM.

South Padre Island Golf Club WILL NOT SELL ALCOHOL on Sunday before 12:00PM. The event has secured a fair $2 beer and poweraid price at South Padre Island Golf Club. 'Exposing' outside alcohol at the golf course 'could' cause unnecessary problems. Golf carts have mounted coolers like The Grande in Michigan and Poplar Grove in Virginia. There will be two beverage carts on the golf course each day.

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KEGS OF BEER
Obendorfer, Pat Boland, Matt Boland, Morris, Shirreffs, and Frisbie will be hosting a social in their garage throughout the week. Participants who are waiting for van service to the Island or Laguna Vista SC can feel free to walk to 45 Torrey Pines Drive. They are not looking for a beer donation.

Obendorfer, Pat Boland, Matt Boland, Morris, Shirreffs, and Frisbie are purchasing ice, buckets, cups, a 1/4 keg for the Awards Dinner on Sunday, and three 1/2 kegs for the beach on Saturday. Pat Boland will be collecting $20 donations at the Friday morning player meeting. HE DOES NOT WANT MONEY FROM GOLFERS WHO WILL NOT BE DRINKING FROM THE KEGS. He would like $20 from the average drinker and $25 from golfers who plan to consume well beyond average. (PARTICIPANTS SHOULD ASSUME SATURDAY'S BEACH BAR ON SOUTH PADRE ISLAND WILL SELL SINGLE BEERS FOR AT LEAST $3.50 PER CAN OR BOTTLE. THE AWARDS DINNER VENDOR DOES NOT SELL BEER.) Pat Boland is planning to put all excess collected money into additional beer or into the event bank account.

There are five businesses in Laguna Vista, TX. One is South Padre Island Golf Club. The other four businesses are located in the Laguna Vista Shopping Center (Laguna Vista SC)

The map below shows the golf course condominums on the left (bullseye) and Laguna Vista Shopping Center on the right (bullseye). The blue arrows represent the van shuttle route.

1. Liquor Store & Carry Out  -  Coastal Spirits. The store will provide a 10% discount to customers who provide the Spackler logo at the register. Open 10:00AM to 9:00PM daily. CLOSED SUNDAY!

2. Restaurant & Banquet Facility - Bayside Cafe. Provides a quality less expensive breakfast.

3. Sports Bar - Bay B Boomers. Dinner menu. Closes at 12:00AM. Possible live music on Wednesday night.

4. Convenience Store - Island View. The store has an ATM Machine. The store sells beer daily and after 12:00PM on Sunday.  Open M-H 8:00AM to 11:00PM.  Open F-Sa 8:00AM to 11:59PM.  Open Su 9:00AM to 11:00PM.

There is scheduled van service as part of the golf trip fee. Participants are also welcome to independently travel to and from Laguna Vista SC at their convenience using "A Taxi" minivan taxi service. The taxi fare from SPIGC to Laguna Vista SC is $5 for two golfers and $9 for 4 golfers. The phone number is located inside the Thursday Pairing Sheet.

Located on the tropical tip of Texas, South Padre Island is bordered by the Gulf of Mexico and the Laguna Madre Bay, and its only link to the mainland is the 2 1/2 mile Queen Isabella Memorial Bridge. The 34 mile-long barrier reef is about a 1/2 mile at its widest point. Streets are bustling with retail shops, resort hotels, condominium towers, restaurants and recreational activities. The Island receives an annual average of 253 days of picturesque sunshine.

The nightlife on South Padre Island is one of the most exciting and popular in the country. There are lots of nightclubs and some of them are gigantic, often having more than one club under one roof. As attractions they have entertainment such as dance clubs, karaoke bars, live bands, and even tattoo parlors inside the club.

COCONUTS (next door to Louie's Backyard)
www.coconutsspi.com

Set amidst palm trees, this quirky, open-air joint takes the nightlife thing and gives it a South Padre twist, thanks to live bands most nights and parasailing and wave-runner rentals during the day. Billed as one of the island's first palapa bars (courtesy of its open-sided, thatched-roof structure), Coconuts overlooks Laguna Madre, making it an ideal place to enjoy the sunset over a few cervezas. Adding to the resort-inspired scene are the music selection and Caribbean-heavy menu, both of which add touches of spice to the place.

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LOUIE'S BACKYARD (next door to Coconuts)
www.lbyspi.com

Although its tropical pink facade is more SoBe than Lone Star, this busy and huge baysider earns high marks as a laid-back place to enjoy delicious local-inspired fare, play a few games of shuffleboard, and share cervezas or cocktails with amigos. Indeed, Louie's Sports Bar is a popular gathering place – one that features 64 TVs with satellite feeds, complimentary hors d'oeuvres at happy hour, and a mind-boggling selection of domestic and international brews. Frequent live bands ensure great crowds. Louie's overlooks Laguna Madre.

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TEQUILA SUNSET
Bay side. Open air bar. Water sports. Live Music, dancing and awesome sunsets.

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WANNA WANNA BEACH BAR (directly north 1/4 mile from Boomerang Billy's)
www.wannawanna.com

Little more than a waterside shack, the Wanna-Wanna Beach Bar and Grill is a local favorite and the place to find beach bums and vacationers alike. Wanna-Wanna's customers are a peculiar mix. Patrons of the adjacent Island Inn Motel and sun-bleached South Padre natives are the usual suspect at this palapa-style thatched hut. It's the perfect island dive complete with cheap, so-so drinks and great views of the beach. The Wanna-Wanna is a great laid-back place to watch beach action, enjoy a grilled burger, and down an ice-cold cerverza. Friendly bartenders and locals make this beach bar one worth returning to. The fruity cocktails and relaxed atmosphere will melt away the hours. The facility has two volleyball courts just off a large deck.

The following map shows the location of Louie's Backyard, Coconuts, Tequlia Sunset, Amberjacks, and Parrot Eyes.

The following map shows the location of Wanna Wanna Beach Bar.

There is an ATM machine located inside Louie's Backyard on South Padre Island.

There is an ATM machine located inside Island View convenience store in the Laguna Vista Shopping Center.

AIRPLANES
Participants should have a golf bag travel case or borrow one from a buddy. The maximum weight limit is 50 pounds and recommend first timers weigh their golf bag with case. Consider using your golf club travel case as additional luggage for clothes.

AIRPORT GROUND TRANSPORTATION
Participants are responsible to make sure their golf clubs are loaded and unloaded from ground transportation. Participants who are not playing golf on the day of their arrival should place their golf bag in their condominium.

ARRIVAL TO SPI CLUBHOUSE
Participants are expected to walk to the clubhouse the morning of their first round of golf, check-in, obtain a golf cart, drive the golf cart back to their condominium, load up their golf bag, and then transport golf bags to the clubhouse.

DEPARTURE FROM SOUTH PADRE ISLAND GOLF CLUB
Participants are expected to drive their golf cart to their condominium after the Closest to the Pin Contest on Sunday. Each participant is expected to grab their travel bag from their condominum and proceed with the golf cart to the April 19 van driver's condominum. Participants should then remove their golf bag from the cart, pack their golf clubs in their travel bag, and store inside the April 19 van driver's garage. Then return the golf cart back to the clubhouse. (Participants playing golf on Monday, April 19 should return their golf bag to the clubhouse on Sunday, April 18 and execute the above steps after golf on Monday.)

The HEB Grocery Store is located 3 miles from South Padre Island Golf Club in Port Isabel, TX. The store opens daily at 5AM and closes daily at 12:00AM.

There will be one 15-seat passenger van traveling to HEB Grocery on three separate occasions. Participants will be given a maximum of 30 minutes inside the store.

The priority passengers for the Wednesday night grocery run are participants who are playing golf early Thursday morning before the practice round.

HEB Grocery store sells beer. They do not sell beer on Sunday prior to 12:00PM.

Airport ground transportation for participants is included in the $399 golf trip fee. There will be $4,000 spent on ground transportation while in Texas. The transportation medium was decided upon based on schedule flexiblity and potentially 45 intoxicated participants.

All participants will be transported from the airport to the golf course using two different vehicles. (1) 15-seat passenger van or (2) private van/bus shuttle service.

The least expensive vendor transports 1, 2, 3, or 4 golfers from HRL to golf course for $72. Participants will be pushed together into groups and assigned ground transportation.

The following link contains the airport ground transportation schedule for arrivals. It is completely comprised from the information provided inside the participant option process.

Airport Ground Transportation Schedule

The following link contains the condominium key distribution schedule and key masters. Each participants will obtain a key from their key master and be responsible for that key until departure.

Key Distribution

The note, Laguna Vista SC, is a prerequisite for this note.

Scheduled ground transportation for participants is included. There will be $4,000 spent on ground transportation while in Texas. The transportation medium was decided upon based on schedule flexiblity and potentially 45 intoxicated participants. The majority of the ground transportation will be provided using three 15-seat passenger vans using three sober drivers.

The sports bar, Bay B Boomers, will host a social event on Wednesday, April 14. There will be ground transportation between South Padre Island Golf Club and Bay B Boomers. Participants are also welcome to use a taxi service provided in the pairing sheet.

The 7 participants who arrive to HRL Airport between 12:00PM CST and 7:00PM CST on April 14 should call Jason Watson for a ride to Bay B Boomers. Participants are expected to review the website or pairing sheet itinerary for the van schedule. Participants who do not plan to attend a social event at Bay B Boomers "should" notify a few participants for clarity.

The full size grocery option, HEB Grocery Store, can provide grocery items for the long weekend. HEB Grocery store sells beer. Participants are expected to review the website or pairing sheet itinerary for the van schedule. There will be one opportunity to be transported to the grocery store on April 14. The priority passengers are participants who are teeing off prior to 10:00AM on April 15.

A liquor store, Coastal Spirits, is located next door to Bay B Boomers. The liquor store closes at 9:00PM CST, but reopens on Thursday morning at 10:00AM CST. The convienence store, Island View, is located next door to Coastal Spirits and closes at 11:00PM CST, but reopens on Thursday morning at 8:00AM CST. Island View sells beer daily, but after 12:00PM on Sunday.

The note, Laguna Vista SC, is a prerequisite for this note.

Scheduled ground transportation for participants is included. There will be $4,000 spent on ground transportation while in Texas. The transportation medium was decided upon based on schedule flexiblity and potentially 45 intoxicated participants. The majority of the ground transportation will be provided using three 15-seat passenger vans using three sober drivers.

The breakfast option, Bayside Cafe, can provide a low-cost quality breakfast on Thursday, April 15.
Participants are expected to review the website or pairing sheet itinerary for the Laguna Vista SC van schedule. There will be four different opportunities to get breakfast on April 15.

The full size grocery option, HEB Grocery Store, can provide grocery items for the long weekend. HEB Grocery store sells beer. Participants are expected to review the website or pairing sheet itinerary for the van schedule. There will be two different opportunities to be transported to the grocery store on April 15.

The liquor and beer store option, Coastal Spirits, can provide all beer and liquor related items for the long weekend. Participants are expected to review the website or pairing sheet itinerary for the Laguna Vista SC van schedule. There will be two opportunities to get liquor or beer before 12:00PM CST on April 15. Coastal Spirits opens at 10:00AM CST.

The convienence store option, Island View, can provide many common items including an ATM machine and beer. Participants are expected to review the website or pairing sheet itinerary for the Laguna Vista SC van schedule. There will be four different opportunities to be transported to a convienence store on April 15. Island View opens at 8:00AM CST.

The note, Golf Bag Transportation, is a prerequisite for this note.

Airport ground transportation for participants is included in the $399 golf trip fee. There will be $4,000 spent on ground transportation while in Texas. The transportation medium was decided upon based on schedule flexiblity and potentially 45 intoxicated participants.

All participants will be transported from the golf course to the airport using a 15-seat passenger van.

Ground transportation departure times on April 19 are located in the pairing sheet. The word "departure" is the time the van will pull out of South Padre Island Golf Club. Golf bags should be stored in the van driver's garage on Sunday, April 18. Participants need to packing their suitcase and then walking to the driver's condominium instead of grabbing another 5 minutes of sleep. Airport vans will depart from the driver's condominium at the time inside the pairing sheet. Participants can sleep for 6 hours while on the airplane.

The following link contains the airport ground transportation schedule for departures. It is completely comprised from the information provided inside the participant option process.

Airport Ground Transportation Schedule

Participants are expected to walk round trip between their condominium and clubhouse. A 15-seat passenger van may or may not pass you and offer you a ride.

Scheduled ground transportation for participants is included. There will be $4,000 spent on ground transportation while in Texas. The transportation medium was decided upon based on schedule flexiblity and potentially 48 intoxicated participants. The majority of the ground transportation will be provided using three 15-seat passenger vans using three sober drivers.

There are minor inefficiencies that come with safe transportation for 51 people. There are multiple volunteers driving the vans on a schedule. Participants are responsible to be 1 or 2 minutes early for pickup and without excuses. There is taxi service for additional convenience. Departure times are documented and communicated to everyone. Each departure is often based on another past or future pickup.

Please do not pressure or ask van drivers about a return ride from South Padre Island. Please do not ask van drivers to save seats. Please do not ask the drivers to wait for you.

There will be three 15-seat passenger vans with volunteers transporting all participants using a reasonable schedule. The vans will depart SPIGC using a designated and repeating route. Riders need to be standing somewhere on this route for pickup.

Each passenger van on the itinerary or schedule can be individually identified with the letter preceeding the word "Van". The letter, which may or may not be important to a rider, corresponds to the first letter of the driver's last name. This code is more important to the van drivers than to the riders.

Each van will start the pickup process at the northern corner of Augusta Drive and Torrey Pines Drive. Each van will travel west on Augusta Drive for 400 feet. Each van will make the first available right turn on Pinehurst Drive. Each van will drive the distance of Pinehurst Drive until the street loops around and returns to Augusta Drive. Each van will make right turn and follow Augusta Drive as the street slowly turns left for 600 feet. August Drive will automatically turn into Torrey Pines Drive. Each van will follow Torrey Pines Drive north until arriving back to starting point. The entire loop is expected to take 1 minute.

It will be common to have van departures staggered by 15 minutes after golf. All vans have a departure time, however will depart early when full with 15 passengers.

There will be passenger vans parked at the Laguna Vista Shopping Center and on South Padre Island in the afternoons and evenings. The vans will be parked on the Island for 10 hours on Saturday. These vans can be used as a storage locker.

It will be your responsibility to obtain the keys from a van driver, your responsiblity to make sure all other valuables remain locked in a particular van, and the keys are immediately returned to the driver.

Participants might want to purchase beer or liquor at the Laguna Vista Shopping Center before going into Bay B Boomers.

Participants may want to remove their swimsuit on Saturday and slip into evening clothes without returning to the condominiums.

There will be 40 participants sleeping at the golf course on April 14. There will be 11 more participants arriving between 11:00AM and 12:00PM on April 15.

Participants will arrive and probably not notice inefficiencies surrounding this year's venue.

It is highly recommended participants spend time prior to 12:00PM on April 15 getting organized for the week ahead regardless of arrival airport. The following proactive considerations may or may not provide a more comfortable vacation on April 16, 17, 18, and 19.

(1) Understand the procedure for transporting your golf bag from condominum to clubhouse.
(2) Understand there is no breakfast available inside the clubhouse on April 15 and April 19.
(3) Understand there is no alcohol sold in Texas on Sunday morning.
(4) Understand the liquor store, Coastal Spirits, is not open Sunday.
(5) Understand the HEB Grocery and Island View sell beer.
(6) Understand it is legal to drink beer on the beach. No glass.
(7) Understand the only provided transportation to a full-size grocery store will be Wednesday night and Thursday morning.
(8) Understand you will not have a vehicle on your terms. (A taxi service is available.)
(9) Understand there will not be daily maid service.
(10) Understand you cannot call down to the front desk for personal care items not provided in your condominum. Shampoo, soap, and towels are included.
(11) Understanding the transportation schedule and procedure is your responsibility.
(12) Understand bulk snacks are not going to be provided in Texas.

There are a few visuals for participants looking to increase their expectations of the golf trip.

GOLF COURSE
There are no yardage books this year, however carts have a GPS. Visit 'bing.com' and use their satellite map for a very good layout of the golf course. The clarity is the best on the Internet.

LODGING
Visit 'spigolf.com' and click "RESORT RENTALS". Click on "Property List" and search for your condominium. There are lots of pictures of each property.

There are 14 kinds of venomous with 116 different kinds of snake in Texas. With the exception of Tom McCauley... leave the snakes alone. The copperhead, cottonmouth, rattlesnake, and coral snake are the snakes that can kill you.

The golf course does not carry snake venom. They instruct golfers to call 911 immediately if bit.

This is an informative note and not intended to scare. The golf course relocates all snakes once reported. The chances of anyone seeing any form of snake are slim.

Snakes like tall grass, dead laying wood, rock, or debris piles where they can hide and prey on rodents. Take care along creek banks and underbrush. Snakes do not prey on humans and they will not chase you.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 2010
All participants are required to check-in inside the pro shop. South Padre Island staff will provide each participant a (1) golf cart key and (2) small bag of range balls.

THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 2010
All participants are required to check-in inside the pro shop. South Padre Island staff will provide each participant a (1) lunch ticket, (2) golf cart key, (3) personalized bag tag, (4) and small bag of range balls.

FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 2010 through MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2010
All participants are required to check-in inside the pro shop each day. South Padre Island staff will provide each participant a (1) golf cart key and (2) small bag of range balls.

The 2010 Skills Challenge Contest will return with a different flavor.

The 51-golfer group attended short game contest will involve 2 swings per golfer (102 swings) immediately after Round 3. Hole 2 of the South Padre Island EXECUTIVE COURSE, a par 3, is located inside the nightly van pickup loop.

Each swing will be executed on the 'count-of-three' and with two guys executing their swing at the same time. The worst skilled golfers will hit first to prevent a Jason Ridgeway tap-in from stealing away the excitement. The closest ball to the pin will take home the 2010 Skills Challenge Trophy.

Greg Garrett returns with trophy in arm. Past winners include Mike Pugh (2008), Jason Ridgeway (2007), Jeff Miller (2006), Pat Boland (2005), and Greg Garrett (2004).

Friday
Closest to the Pin - 3 and 12
Long Drive - 4 and 13
Long Putt - 18

Saturday
Closest to the Pin - 6 and 15
Long Drive - 7 and 16
Long Putt - 18

Sunday
Closest to the Pin - 6 and 12
Long Drive - 9 and 17
Long Putt - 18

LODGING
There are a handful of condominiums with Internet access. The priority condominium assignments were online scoring and document printing.

Visit 'spigolf.com' and click "RESORT RENTALS". Click on "Property List" and search for your condominium. There are abbreviations with each condominium such as king bed (K), queen bed (Q), twin bed (T), no garage (NG), etc.. The (I) means the condominium is "supposed to" have Internet access.

CLUBHOUSE
The clubhouse has Internet access.

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND
Louie's Backyard has Internet access.

There will be a 4-man Best Ball today using Poststats Points to determine the winner. A Jon Munksgard double-bogey (2 points) is a better ball than a Jason Ridgeway par (1 point). The website will automatically obtain strokes per hole for each team member, determine the best points per hole on the team, and calculate the winner. Your teammates are in your foursome today.

The first annual Carl-Olympics will take place in the picturesque South Padre Island, TX this year.  The events will require superior strength, athletic skill and endurance. Below are the events that will take place during this year Carl-Olympics. All you need to bring is yourself and your drinking game to compete at a very high level.  Details and enrollment for the event will be discussed at the player meeting on Friday morning.

The 2-man teams will be completely random and we will not be taking requests to team with buddies.  Once we have the participants after the player meeting, we will randomly draw names out of a hat to determine teams.  We will publish the teams as an insert with the Saturday pairing sheets.  

Location – Wanna Wanna Beach Bar
Day – Saturday, April 17th
Time – Approximately 3:30pm

THE EVENTS
1. Flying Wasp Beer Can Toss
2. Toss, Drop and Drink
3. Danny Noonan Obstacle Course

SOME DETAILS
The Flying Wasp Beer Can Toss is a timed event (60 seconds) with individual 2-man teams. Most cans thrown into a trash can in 60 seconds wins.  

The Danny Noonan obstacle course will be a timed event with 2-man teams and best time is the winner.  The course will be made up of several different events that require coordination, drinking, throwing objects and drinking. Please check your ego at the starting line and prepare to be embarrassed for this event.  

The Toss, Drop and Drink will be a single elimination competition with 2-man teams over the course of several rounds (number of rounds dependent on number of teams). Last 2-man team standing wins.