Gearing Up with The Tournament Director

The tournament committee met recently at Spring Valley Country Club, site of the 2012 Invitational.  For an insider's look at what was discussed, read below.  The Blogette is asking the questions, and The Director responds.

Q:  With warm weather golf just around the corner, what are your thoughts on the upcoming golf season?
A:  Isn't it great to live in a place where you can connect with your friends and play golf year round?  My game is not so good at the moment, but I am looking forward to daily temperatures of 70 degrees, and it will be here before we know it!  I am eager to get started on the GolfWeek Amateur Tour, which begins the second week of February.  Anyone who enjoys playing competitive golf should consider this tour.  Check out our sponsor page at right for more information, and to see how you can join.  I think the name of the game for us all right now is practice, practice, practice!

Q:  I know you recently met with the tournament committee, and you played the course before "getting down to business".  How was that?
A:  What a nice golf course...any time of the year, you will find Spring Valley in great shape!  This particular day was a liitle wet and chilly (like my game), but overall the course was in good condition.  Mike Evans went home with heavier pockets than when he teed off on #1, and Steve Smith continues to become a better golfer. 

Q:  How about sharing the news regarding The Invitational with all of our friends and players?
A:  First of all, I would like to say that the committee is working extremely hard on getting ready for June 18th - the day of the 2012 tournament.  There is no question that this will be an outstanding event.  We are counting on this year's tournament being the best one yet.  Here is a list of "the basics" we have planned for this year:  
*We will get underway with pre-tournament registration from 9:00 - 10:30.
*Tee times will be from 10:00 - 10:48, using four starting holes. 
*Lunch will be available during play to all golfers and volunteers.  We will have similar offerings as in past years, with plenty of soft drinks, beer and bottled water to quench your thirst.
*We are continuing our tradition of the $500 skins pot.  No need to pay in...it is included in the entry fee. 
* For more info, please see page at right -2012 Tournament Info.


Q:  OK - we have covered the basics.  Are there any special tricks up the committee's sleeve with the new venue at SVCC?
A:  All golf courses have signature holes, and Spring Valley CC is no exception.  We plan to take advantage of the 16th hole there.  It is a 195-yard par three over water.  We know there will be those players who step up and confidently pull a club out of the bag and bravely face the incoming wind and ongoing cat-calls, and stick it on the green anyway.  However, any golfer who hits a ball in the water will receive a sleeve of golf balls as a consolation.  Beverages for drowning any sorrows or celebrating anything within the leather will be served by the Pearlz Girlz.  This hole will be the play-off hole in case of a tie for the overall tournament winner, and the on-course leaderboard will be featured here as well.

SVCC #16 - Tee to Green-click on photo

Q:  In the past, there has been some time to kill while players are waiting for all to finish.  Is there anything for them to do while they wait?
A:  We have tried both shot-gun start and tee times in the past.  Because this is a competitive tournament, I have decided to stick with tee times, as this is more in keeping with championship play.  We realize that the first group has time to kill while waiting for their buddies to finish, so we are adding a 6- to 9-hole team putting championship on Spring Valley's large and undulating pracitce green.  We are working out the details and will keep folks posted as we finalize them.  One thing we are sure of...winners of this contest will receive Pearlz gift certificates for their putting prowess.     

Q:  Anything else you would like to share? 
A:  We feel like we are putting together an event that is well-worth the entry fee.  Our tournament has a unique format, and there is nothing like it offered in South Carolina that I know of.  The entry fee of $250 is a fair price for the many benefits that players will enjoy.  There are no hidden costs of buying mulligans or joining in the skins pot at this event...everything is included.  We are greatly interested in donating to our charity, Special Olympics, but we are also commtited to offering golfers a great day of play.

Q:  And....knowing you....is there anything else?!
A:  I want to be sure to thank everyone for following the blog, and stay tuned for more tournament updates!

If you would like to enter a team in the 2012 Invitational,
please contact John Beckman
by clicking here:  johnsara@bellsouth.net
or calling 803-606-0240. 

Oh Fudge!

Every year, The Blogette goes to an annual cookie exchange with her gal-pals.  This year, she is taking fudge and wrote a story for her friends about it.  The director asked her to share it on the blog.  When she asked how the fudge story related to golf, he suggested that since the story proves that both males and females can master the recipe, some readers may want to make it for their spouses....some golfers may want to make it for their caddies...well, you get the drift.  We hope you are getting into the holiday spirit, and if not -just make a batch of fudge!

My mother taught me how to make this fudge, but it is my grandmother’s recipe.  It was always on our family cookie trays around the holidays, and was given to friends and neighbors as a gift.  From the time I was in high school, one of my holiday jobs was to place various cookies on a plate on Christmas Eve – not exactly a burdensome task as the fudge was always there!   As a young teacher in Indiana, I taught biology and coached volleyball.  One Christmas, I took a cookie tray in to the office staff at school.  Again, the fudge was there.  The athletic director had played high school basketball for the Cambridge City Wampus Cats, a rival team of my father’s Fountain City Little Giants.  When he asked for the fudge recipe, I questioned whether such a former foe was worthy of possessing the recipe.  Assuming it was for his wife, and softened by his culinary compliments, I decided to give him a copy.  About a week later, I was surprised to receive some peanut butter fudge from Mr. Craig.  Not only did he make the fudge himself, he added his own experimental (and delicious) twist by substituting peanut butter chips for chocolate ones!  A few years passed and I gave the recipe to Angie Karch – my good friend across the hall who taught math.  One evening, I got a call from her at about 10:00 with a question from her pre-teen daughter Natalie.  “Do you really have to stir it constantly for six minutes?” she wondered.  The answer is yes, or it will burn and stick.  Don’t turn your back on this fudge!  Natalie now has two little boys of her own to make fudge for.  When I got married, I got a bonus daughter - Brooke.  In an effort to include her in my family’s traditions, my mother transferred the job of CEO (cookie executive officer) to her.  I can just see her at Mom’s kitchen counter, eating cookies and placing them on the plate.  Every year, the fudge was there.  When my mother-in-law Virginia moved with John and me to South Carolina, she became part of the fudge heritage.  Her favorite way to eat it was with one piece stuffed into each of her 82-year-old cheeks.  Not a problem really until she tried to talk, or got tickled about something, which was often.  When John’s courier business took off here, it was not uncommon for me to make 10-14 cookie trays every year for his clients.  I still have the lists I used to figure out how many cookies it took to fill them - - that would be 21 dozen!  I wonder now how in the world I did that.  I think it was because the fudge was always there.  For me, a cookie tray is just not truly ready for Christmas unless there is fudge.

Our Family's Holiday Fudge 

2 c. sugar

10 large marshmallows

½ stick butter or margarine (1/4 cup)

1 small can (5 oz.) Carnation evaporated milk – do not use Eagle brand!

1 t. vanilla

6 oz. chocolate chips

Combine first four ingredients in a saucepan.  Bring to a boil and boil six minutes while stirring constantly.  Remove from heat and add vanilla and chips.  Stir until mixture is well-blended and pour into an 8 x 8 square buttered dish.  Leave enough in the pan so you can sample some while it is warm.  Chill until firm before cutting.

Report from Q School - Stage Two Round Four

Local PGA tour hopeful Chip Deason shot a final round 71 Saturday for a four-day total of 279 (-5) which put him in a tie for second place at the Hombre Golf Club in Panama City, FL.  Current tour player Tommy Armour led the field at this site with a 276 (-8).  Chip and his caddie, Robert Peeler, move on to Q School finals, held on Nov. 30-Dec. 5 at PGA West in LaQuinta, California.  The low 25 players plus ties earn PGA tour cards for 2012.  For more information, you can check out
http://www.pgatour.com/qschool/.  The Invitational blog will continue to follow the dream team of Chip and Robert and their further adventures.  Q School finals will be televised on The Golf Channel on Dec. 3,4 and 5.

See our original story about Robert Peeler and Chip Deason

on their road to a dream posted below on Nov 2.

On the Road to a Dream

We all have dreams growing up.  We might dream of being a doctor, a nurse, a pro athlete or a firefighter, but how many of us are willing to start at the bottom and keep working towards that dream?  This is a story about two young men, each trying to fulfill their own dream.  You will get acquainted with Chip Deason, a golf professional striving to make his way onto the PGA tour.  You will also meet Robert Peeler, a college student with an unusual goal.  I am sure you have all heard that old saying "it takes two to tango” and it is ever so true in this case.

The Blog is doing a Q and A with Robert Peeler, a young man we got to know about 7 or 8 summers ago.  The Director and The Blogette were playing a lot of golf that summer, and got acquainted with Robert and his two golfing buddies, Jamie Mabe and Daniel Hardy.  They were all members of the Lexington High School golf team, and all 3 were about 14 years old at that time.  While playing the front nine, we would see these 3 young kids approaching fast behind us, all toting their clubs and moving at a brisk pace.  The first time this happened, they asked if they could play through.  We said “Sure guys - no problem!”  We never expected to see them again that day, and planned on continuing our round without further interruption.  When lo and behold, here they came again…on the back nine.  No need for small talk this time, we just waved them on through.  The Director spoke up and asked "How many holes today?”  The scrawniest one of the three answered, "At least 36 today, or till it gets dark…we might get in 54.”  This skinny kid weighed no more than a hundred pounds soaking wet, and the bag was nearly bigger than he was!  This was our first encounter with Robert Peeler.  We could tell that he had a future in golf - with his determined attitude, the pep in his step and his love for the game.  Just the way he carried that big bag, lined up every putt, and pulled that scorecard out reminded us of the Great Ones – Angelo Argea, Bruce Edwards, and Fluff.  Yes, this young man just might become a PGA tour caddy!!

Robert Peeler and Chip Deason
Two regular guys on the road to a dream!

 Give us some background on yourself. What is your college major, other interests, etc.?I was born in Gaffney, SC (home of the Big Peach), and moved to Lexington at age 10. I graduated from Lexington High School in 2007 and will graduate from Clemson in TBD? (laughs)…probably next summer. I am majoring in Travel and Tourism, and enjoy being anywhere outside… the beach, lake, golf course, or the mountains. I love to travel to Clemson sporting events and just any new places. One of my goals is to visit all 50 states before I die. I also probably follow the PGA Tour, and Jonathan Byrd in particular, too extremely but I enjoy keeping up with it and feel that caddying on the PGA Tour would be a dream job.

How did you meet Chip and start caddying for him? I met Chip about three years ago when I was working as a cart-boy at the Country Club of Lexington. I had on some kind of Clemson clothing (surprise, surprise) and he took a jab at me about our recent shellacking at the hands of Alabama in the opening game of the college football season that year. I went up to the range and starting talking with him. I found out that he was a professional golfer. We starting playing some and became friends. I told him that I enjoyed caddying, and he suggested that I could caddy for him at the local Hooters Tour events in Columbia and McCormick, SC when I got the chance.

Tell about your goals as a caddy.My ultimate goal is to become a caddy on the PGA Tour, and hopefully stay there for 20-25 years. I would like to caddy in each of the 4 majors at least once – especially The Masters. I would love to be at the majors on a yearly basis. As a caddy on the PGA Tour, there are several perks. These include not only walking inside the ropes, and seeing some of the greatest courses in the world, but having the opportunity to play there as well. I would like to be able to use this position in order to knock some of the world’s greatest courses off of my lifetime play list. Ultimately, I would like to caddy for Chip on the PGA Tour. Hopefully, he can not only make it but hang around for a long while. I can also use my position as a caddy to knock out several of the states I have left to visit.

What should a person do in order to pursue this goal? Caddying is all about who you know and getting your foot in the door. The more I get to caddy for Chip, even at the Hooters Tour level, the more people I meet and the more contacts I can make in regards to the professional golf business. If you are not fortunate enough to know a PGA Tour player willing to let you carry his sticks, a good starting place is the Hooters or Nationwide Tour. There are 14 spots available for Monday qualifiers on the Nationwide Tour almost every week. That gives caddies a great opportunity to find a player who needs a caddy at least for that week. It can be a very good lifestyle but not quite as glamorous when you are starting out.

What is your experience as a caddy in the professional ranks? I have caddied several times for buddies in amateur tournaments as well most recently caddying at the South Carolina Amateur Championship at Colleton River in Bluffton. Professionally, I have caddied in three Hooters Tour Events (2010 and 2011 Woodcreek Classic, and 2011 Savannah Lakes Village Classic) and most recently in the first stage of PGA Tour Qualifying School at Kinderlou Forest in Valdosta, GA. I got to caddy for my favorite PGA Tour player Jonathan Byrd in a practice round at the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow in Charlotte. What a great experience for me being able to caddy for my idol growing up!

Tell us about caddying for Chip. What is his best finish? Chip’s best Hooters Tour finish with me on the bag was T-11 at Woodcreek in 2010. We just recently finished T-4 at First Stage of Q-School. To his credit, Chip has 2 career Hooters Tour Victories: 2009 ComSouth Classic in Hawkinsville, GA/28 under; and 2008 Kandy Waters Golf Classic in Augusta. He has played in three PGA Tour events: 2000 Buick Challenge/Pine Mountain, GA, 2007 AT&T Classic/Atlanta, and 2009 Ginn Sur Mer Classic/Palm Coast, FL (T-54)

Do you have any funny stories you can share about your friendship or golf relationship with Chip?
Probably the funniest story about our friendship happened shortly after I met Chip. We were playing the Palmetto GC in Aiken. Chip had just finished playing in the Ginn Sur Mer Classic. We had made it to the 2nd tee, and we were discussing his tournament performance. That’s when I told Chip that he had led the field in birdies for the week with 17. At this point, Chip didn’t know that my brain is an encyclopedia of useless sports stats and knowledge. Our other 2 players knew me well and just started laughing, because of course that stat is just the kind of thing that only I would commit to memory. Chip had no idea and was like “how the hell do you know that?” before saying “I probably led the field in bogeys too!” Ever since then Chip has referred to me as the “The Stats Guy” when talking to playing partners about sports.
Also, this past week, at First Stage, each day consisted of the same routine for us. Chip always gets up 3 hours before his tee time to make sure he is not rushed. We had McDonald’s for breakfast every day. Chip had an Egg McMuffin and large orange juice, while I alternated between a Sausage McMuffin or sausage biscuit, hash browns, and orange juice every morning. Our post-round meal each day consisted of Chicken Pot Pie Soup at the Club. I didn’t know there was such a thing, but it was amazing. Then we went back to the hotel to shower off, and headed to Cracker Barrel each night. Chip got the Old Timer’s Breakfast every night, with me getting the Cracker Barrel Sampler one night and the Sunrise Breakfast Sampler the next 2 nights. We always got some type of candy afterwards. For me, that meant cinnamon drops, horehound drops, and lemonade drops in that order. Neither one of us is usually superstitious about routines like this, but it seemed to be working, so we stuck with it and it helped us move on.

What are some things that are required for caddies to do that most average golfers would not know about? What is the hardest/easiest/most fun part of the job?

You do not have be a great golfer to be a caddy. You just need to have a good understanding of the game. Being a good caddy doesn’t just happen overnight. It takes time to find out the nuances involved with caddying on a regular basis at the highest levels. Knowing when to talk and when to shut up is vital, whether your player is playing good or bad. Also, I am getting more and more accustomed to how far Chip hits the ball with each club, therefore giving me the ability to give more input as time goes on. I am fairly inexperienced as a caddy, and am using the experience with Chip to better myself moving forward.

Let’s look ahead to Second Stage… what is up next for you two?Chip got his assignment for Second Stage early this week. He is signed up for the Hombre Golf Club (Bad/Ugly) in Panama City, Florida. His high finish this week assured him of the trip to Panama City. The higher you finish in First Stage, the better chance you have of getting your preferred Second Stage site. I have a test that Thursday (Nov. 15) but I will be working with my professor to make it up either before or after the trip. As long as I can get that taken care of, I will be back on the bag at Second Stage, trying to help Chip move through to Final Stage in LaQuinta, California, and hopefully on the way to the PGA Tour.

Chip Deason Bio:

Originally from Alabama, now calls Lexington, South Carolina his home......1991 and 1992 Alabama State Junior Champion....Played at University of Alabama, and was SEC first team in 1996 and 1997.....Shot low round of 64 in the 1997 SEC Championship.....Won 1 Gateway Tour championship…….Won 2 Hooters Tour Championships, best score of 28 under at the Com South Classic in 2009.......Played in 3 PGA tour events, best finish T-54 at the Ginn Sur Mer Classic in Palm Coast, FL in 2009…..Made it to the Final Stage of PGA Tour Q-School in 2005.....Finished T-4 First Stage of PGA Tour Q-School…..Headed to Second Stage at Panama City, FL on Nov 15, 2011.

The Invitational Blog extends best wishes to Robert and Chip on their road to the dream.

We, along with all of our blog flollowers, will be watching your journey all the way to the PGA tour!

Go get 'em!!



Funny you should mention...

It is pretty ironic that Ricky Jackson would pick peanut butter cookies for his prize in our Halloween Edition of Pigskin Picks.  Our peanut butter cookie recipe comes from Tony Dorsett.  You know, the Heisman trophy winner and pro-bowler who played for the Dallas Cowboys?  No....really!  Once upon a time in 1986, The Director and The Blogette wrote a cookbook together.  I know, the story seems to get more unbelievable with every line, but it's all true.  The cookbook was called "The Coaches' Training Table" and featured favorite recipes from college and professional coaches and athletes, representing all sports and all regions of the country.  It was written to help support a basketball fundraiser for cancer.  We sent literally hundreds of letters to anyone we could find an address for.  Tony Dorsett was one of the athletes who wasn't too busy to send in a contribution for the cause, and that's how we got his favorite recipe.  The story of this cookbook circulated on the AP wire service, and was featured on the cover of a Sunday edition of The Indianapolis Star.  There are many stories to tell of our adventures in writing that cookbook, and maybe we will share them from time to time if it sparks a memory like it did this weekend.  By the way, this is the same recipe that the Blogette's mother always used.  If you would like to make your own,  just read on...

Tony's Favorite Peanut Butter Cookies:
1 c. brown sugar
1 c. white sugar
1 c. shortening
1 c. peanut butter
3 c. flour
2 eggs
2 t. soda
1/2 t. salt
1 t. vanilla
Sift flour and soda and set aside.  Cream together shortening and sugars, and add eggs, then peanut butter, salt and vanilla.  Add flour mixture and mix in well.  Roll into balls and mark with a fork.  Bake at 350 for 8 minutes or until golden brown.  Makes about 5 dozen cookies.

Meet Mr. Nice Guy - Dr. Brian Willard

Dr. Brian Willard represents the type of player that The Invitational is proud to have in the field.  He has participated for three years in the tournament.  When John called to ask if he would be willing to participate in Pigskin Picks, Brian said he was extremely busy due to recently being named head of the urology department at Lexington Medical Center.  John was pleased to learn that Dr. Willard has this connection, since The Invitational provided an opportunity for all players to receive prostate cancer screening via a simple blood test as a part of the 2011 tournament.  Lexington Medical Center provided the friendly staff  for the screenings.  In their conversation, Brian remarked that he plays in two fantasy football leagues, and this did sound like fun, so he was willing to be part of it.  Dr. Willard is an avid fan of the North Carolina State Wolfpack, but his background would actually allow him to root for some other teams as well.  He has a zoology degree from NC State, received his medical degree from North Carolina (Chapel Hill), and completed his residency at the University of Missouri hospitals.  In between surgeries, football research, and being an all-around nice guy,  Dr. Willard plays at Lexington Country Club. 

Advertising on the Blog

Would you like to become a sponsor of our blog and advertise your business for free??!  We have a page on our sidebar on the right of our main posts just for that purpose.  This section will feature your business, photo, logo and any brief information you would like.  You will also get coverage as a post for one week, and your business information will then be moved to our "Blog Sponsors" page.  We appreciate the many businesses and individuals who support The Invitational in so many ways.  Our goal is to provide them the chance to be recognized and supported in return.   Please contact John at johnsara@bellsouth.net or 803.606.0240 to showcase your business.