Lots new about SKCC
- Updated: June 30, 2015
[corner-ad id=2]Silver Lakes’ rotation, two-tee start at Cider Ridge, tee gift options & contests keeping Classic fresh
Lance Evans (L) and Ryan Howard raise the trophy after winning the 36th annual Sunny King Charity Classic in a Sunday playoff.
By Al Muskewitz
East Alabama Sports Today
When you’ve been doing something for nearly 40 years the hardest thing is to keep it fresh, and keeping things fresh is as important to the organizers of the Sunny King Charity Classic as handing out a big six-figure check at the end of the weekend.
Classic officials have added some wrinkles to this 37th year of the event – both on and off the courses — they hope will continue to add to the value and experience for players and sponsors alike.
“We’re doing a lot of new things,” tournament chairman Braxton Harris said.
The tournament runs July 10-12 at Silver Lakes (scramble format), Cider Ridge Golf Club (scamble) and Anniston Country Club (best ball). Lance Evans and Ryan Howard are the defending champions, coming from two shots back entering Championship Sunday to beat Gary Wigington and Freeman Fite in a playoff last year.
Some players in the field already have experienced one of the new elements of the Classic. About one-third of registered players have paid their entry fees on-line.
Once they arrive at the course, players will be offered several tee gift packages and upgrade options. During the tournament, the teams will encounter split-tee starts at Cider Ridge similar to those they’ve had at Silver Lakes the past few years.
The idea, Harris explained, is to get the players on and off the course as efficiently as possible with time to recharge for the evening’s social event. On Saturday, that social will include long- and accurate-drive contests on a lighted 17th fairway at ACC during the night’s Hittin’ & Sippin’ beer tasting and social.
Perhaps the most significant change is the tweak to the course rotation. The same three facilities are being used, but at Silver Lakes the Backbreaker nine will replace the Mindbreaker side. It is believed to be the first time since 1999, when it was used in combination with the Short Course, Backbreaker has been part of SKCC play.
The Heartbreaker nine, with its dramatic 5-3-4 finish, remains a staple in the rotation.
The Backbreaker-Heartbreaker rotation was the same routing used for last week’s RTJ Silver Lakes Championship.
“With our aerification schedule, Mindbreaker was the last to be aerified,” Silver Lakes pro Brennan Clay said. “It’s been healed (but not quite as far along as the other nines). We wanted to mix it up anyway.”
One thing that hasn’t changed with regards to the Classic is its dedication to provide as large a contribution as possible to the nearly three dozen local charities it benefits. The tournament has raised more than $2.5 million in charitable contributions since its inception.
Overall entries have been running a little slower than normal for a variety of reasons, but through the generous participation of tournament sponsors organizers are confident the charities will “be in good shape.”
Entries will be taken through July 9. Registration forms can be found at the tournament website – www.kingclassic.com. No entries will be accepted the day the tournament begins.
SUNNY KING CHARITY CLASSIC
Flight Names
Championship – Ford Mustang
First flight – Acura TLX
Second flight – Toyota Avalon
Third flight – Ford F-150
Fourth flight – Honda Pilot
Fifth flight – Toyota Tundra
Sixth flight – Scion FRS
Seventh flight – Honda HR-V
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