Plans for Dixie Cup 2010 are in the works!!!
Ed Oden and
Roger Wolf are putting an event together in Charlotte, NC.
For planning purposes only, here is a note from Ed with thoughts on the most likely scenario:
Dates - Friday 10/22/10 to Sunday 10/24/10. This is the only available weekend that works for all venues without getting too close to the BUDA or so late in November that weather/daylight becomes a real issue. The potential fly in the ointment is that we need the Carolina Panthers to have a home game that Sunday, which substantially reduces member use at local clubs and makes it viable for them to accommodate a large group of non-members. So we can't definitively commit until the NFL schedule is announced, which usually happens in April.
Courses - Assuming the Panthers cooperate, Saturday 10/23 and Sunday 10/24 are set at Mimosa Hills and Carolina GC, respectively. Both are Donald Ross designs which have been recently restored by Kris Spence and fall into the "hidden gem" category that GCAers crave. Mimosa Hills is in Morganton, which is about 1:15 from Charlotte, but we're confident everyone will find it well worth the drive.
On Friday 10/22 there are a couple of possibilities. Roger hopes to secure Gaston Country Club, which is an Ellis Maples design that has also been restored by Kris Spence just down the road in Gastonia. Alternatively, I have reserved Charlotte Golf Links for Friday as well, which is one of Tom Doak's earliest designs. We would be interested in whether everyone thinks Gaston (Maples, private, likely good condition) or Charlotte Golf Links (Doak, public, often questionable conditioning, slow play) will appeal more to the GCA crowd. FYI, I expect all courses will be in the $50-$80 green fee range.
Accommodations - There are so many options in Charlotte that we are inclined to let folks mostly fend for themselves. But as we get closer, we'll probably toss out a few at varying price points. In particular, one of the members at Carolina Golf Club owns a very nice bed and breakfast which is conveniently located and would be a great place for people to hang out:
http://www.moreheadinn.com/Dining - Carolina Golf Club will be having an Oyster Roast Friday evening for members and guests. All Dixie Cuppers are welcome. Very casual, good food, cold beer and lots of fun. Saturday is a bit dicier since golf is in Morganton that day, so we will just let that one evolve.
Miscellaneous - We have spoken with
Kris Spence about participating since he has done the restoration work at Carolina, Mimosa and Gaston. Schedule permitting, he is on board. We trust the guys will enjoy Kris' insight.
That's it for now. Feel free to reply with any thoughts, suggestions or questions.
NOTE: Final plans will be announced in APRIL.