With only one Jack Frost Championship left (December 10th at Hilton Head National) we are about to say goodbye to the 2011 season. Looking back at the season, we have a lot to remember and to build on for the future. I for one am looking forward to the start of the 2012 season. But before we get there let’s reflect on what the 2011 season gave us to remember.
Let’s start with the tournaments and membership themselves. As a tour we had over 50 members and averaged 21 players per tournament. Though these numbers may sound low, it is a good starting spot for the tour. I personally look at this year as a fresh start for the tour and getting over 50 members and averaging 21 players at each event for the "first year" is pretty good.
The season long points races were pretty exciting all the way to the end. I love when the races come down to the last tournament or two. It makes for some exciting tournaments and puts a lot of pressure on the players that are in the hunt for the season long winner. Again we would like to congratulate Chris Burnett, Mike Peters, Pat Helm, Keith Weaver and Todd Champitto on winning their respective flights this year.
Another thing that I am very proud of is that we as a tour were able to raise over $280 to donate to the Stand Up To Cancer foundation this year. This foundation is very important to numerous tour members and cancer touches everyone. I am very proud of the Hilton Head-Savannah Tour for your help in raising money this year to donate.
The National Championship was another reason to remember 2011. We had three placers this year out of the 11 players that played. Keith Weaver placed 7th in the C flight, John Donat placed 10th in the C flight and Todd Champitto placed 10th in the D flight. Great job Hilton Head-Savannah Tour!
Now that the 2011 season has come to an end, it is time to look forward to the 2012 season. I am extremely excited about the schedule that we have put together. We have 20 tournaments scheduled for the season starting with the Westin Ice Breaker Open on January 14th and 15th at the Palmetto Hall Plantation and ending with Robbers Row on October 6th on the Port Royal Plantation. We have some of the best courses in the area on the schedule this year.
Every year I look back at the previous season and make a list of goals for the upcoming season. Below you will find the goals that I have for the Hilton Head-Savannah Tour for the 2012 season:
1) Get our membership to over 75 members
2) Average 30 players a tournament
3) Raise over $350 for Stand Up To Cancer
4) Have 4 placers in the National Championship
5) Have a winner at the Ice Breaker and the Southern Regional
6) Finish in the top 7 in the Team Cup at the National Championship
These are my MINIMUM goals for next year. Of course I want to exceed all six of those goals. I want the Hilton Head-Savannah tour to be one of the best tours in the Golfweek Amateur Tour family. I want the tour that hosts the National Championship to be well represented throughout the entire year. In order for us to be the best, we have to talk to our golfing friends and get them to join our tour. We have to keep our members playing throughout the entire season. We had a good first year, now it’s time to have a better second year!