The 61st Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) National Championship and Golf Classic presented in partnership with The Toro Co., will be held Feb. 4-6, 2011, in Palm Beach, Fla.
It will take place at four of PGA National Resort's courses and The Breakers Rees Jones Course in Palm Beach, Fla. Few golf competitions can match the number of participants attracted by this golf event for GCSAA members. Nearly 600 GCSAA members will gather to network and enjoy various levels of competition on the golf course.
"We are looking forward to bringing our tournament to these five high quality golf courses in Palm Beach next year," says GCSAA President James R. Fitzroy, CGCS. "That coupled with excellent accommodations at PGA National Resort and Spa, and the great support of Toro, we expect a wonderful experience for every participant."
The GCSAA National Championship will be conducted Feb. 5-6 at PGA National's Champion Course, the same course that is home to the PGA Tour's Honda Classic every March and hosted the 1983 Ryder Cup, the 1987 PGA Championship and the Senior PGA Championship from 1982-2000. The National Championship is limited to 100 GCSAA members with a 5.0 handicap index or lower. It is a two-day, 36-hole, stroke-play event. The winner, along with champions from the last five years, will receive an invitation to participate in the renowned Trans-Mississippi Golf Championship, where the likes of PGA Tour professionals such as Jack Nicklaus, Ben Crenshaw, Dean Beman and Bob Tway, among others, have carried home the championship trophy.
The GCSAA Golf Classic welcomes 480 players of all abilities Feb. 5-6 to compete in both gross and net competition within their respective flights using the point quota scoring system. Flights in the Golf Classic will rotate between PGA National's Palmer, Squire, and Haig courses, as well as the nearby Breakers Rees Jones Course. A four-ball mixer open to all competitors will be held Feb. 4.
The PGA of America, which has been involved in the event for more than 10 years, will provide rules officials, course setup and course markings. The 2011 GCSAA National Championship and Golf Classic is held in conjunction with the GCSAA Education Conference (Feb. 7-11) and Golf Industry Show (Feb. 9-10), in Orlando.
The Toro Co. is partnering with the association to present the annual GCSAA National Championship and Golf Classic. Toro, a GCSAA Platinum Partner, is a global leader in providing maintenance equipment and irrigation systems to golf courses and has been the sole partner of this event since 1995.
"The GCSAA tournament is a tremendous opportunity to enjoy the game of golf in a fun, competitive setting on great courses. But as importantly, it provides superintendents a chance to network with each other and share best practices professionally," says Toro Vice President of Commercial Business Michael Happe, CME, CSE. "Toro is proud of our long relationship and strong history of support with the GCSAA. The GCSAA National Championship and Golf Classic is a wonderful way for us to say thank you to GCSAA members, further invest in the great relationships we have built over the years and understand our customers' needs more effectively."