Tavistock Adventure
SouthernIllinoisGolf.com’s Dena Cuppett was among the few to witness the sixth annual 2009 Tavistock Cup live at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club in Orlando, Florida.
Tavistock is an annual golf tournament that has developed between two master planned golf communities - Isleworth and Lake Nona - home to numerous touring golf professionals. The word is the tournament started after a locker room conversation about which of the two community would win if their professional golf members played each other.
What also makes the tournament unique is it is not open to the general public - only members of the two communities’ country clubs, tournament sponsors and VIP guests are able to get tickets.
This year, the tournament was conducted on March 16 and 17. Participants included well-known names from the PGA Tour. Team Isleworth included: Captain Mark O’Meara, Robert Allenby, Stuart Appleby, Daniel Chopra, Darren Clarke, John Cook, J.B. Holmes, Charles Howell III, Nick O’Hern and Tiger Woods; and Lake Nona included: Captain Ernie Els, Ben Curtis, Chris DiMarco, Retief Goosen, Trevor Immelman, Graeme McDowell, Mark McNulty, Ian Poulter, Justin Rose and Henrick Stenson.
Cuppett, a guest of the tournament, kindly has offered to share the tournament through her eyes.
Day one:
Imagine yourself taking your morning stroll. You set out on your walk, not knowing what’s in store but looking forward to the fresh air and thoughtless time ahead.
During your walk you come upon a subdivision. You walk by this neighborhood entrance every morning, but today it’s like nothing you’ve ever seen before. Out of curiosity, you peak in the subdivision gates that are dawned with gorgeous blue and red drapery opening to a grand display…perfectly manicured greens, colorful flowers and old rustic looking trees with the dew drop still fresh on the tips of each leaf. The sun barely peering up over the trees and the smell of the morning air is just like you remember on the first day of Spring when you were a kid.
As you continue through the gates, you see people – all in red and blue polo jersey shirts matching the red and blue patterns at the entrance. They are being shuttled in by private air-conditioned buses looking as expensive as the people riding in them. You instantly get a sense of competition in the air.
Suddenly a jet flies overhead, lands and one by one 16 professional golfers dressed in identical red polo jersey shirts step out. They walk to the driving range as a ceremony begins introducing each player, their association with the game and the rivalry that exists between the two most prominent and affluent private communities in Orlando, Florida. Now let the games begin.
With 16 players representing the red team Isleworth Country Club and 15 players representing the blue team Lake Nona Country Club, they take their respective places on the course. Legend has it that this tournament began in a locker room 6 years ago and now holds the passion of pure competition and as 8-time Worldwide Victor Ian Poulter, says, “bragging rights” and at the end of the day it is for charity’s sake.
Over the last five years of Tavistock, millions of dollars have been donated to causes worldwide. This year, Tavistock Cup Foundation will donate more than $4.4 million to charity. Unique to Tavistock is that $1 million of the $4.4 million, will be donated to the charity chosen by the tournament’s winning team. This history-making activity all occurring on one of the world’s top 100 rated courses in the U.S. – Lake Nona Golf Course.
The crowds conversation is funny with laughs and joyful voices throughout families, friends and loved ones gathered together just like at a St. Louis Cardinals’ opening day game!
For one hour the tee offs go on with the last tee off being the Swedish 2008 Mercedes Benz Champion Daniel Chopra and two-time FBR Open winner in 2006 and 2008 JB Holmes. The sound of the club hitting the ball is the most beautiful sound titanium makes!
As the day goes on, what is heard amongst the crowds and trees are birds chirping, people clapping and cheering for one team or the other. The breeze blowing might not be ideal for ball flight, but in 84 degree weather it is a relief to the spectators. In the distance is Orlando Airport and planes flying to and from. People stand, wait and watch in anticipation of the ball to come flying through the air in what appears to be an effortless manner and landing ever so perfectly with a soft bounce in the middle of the fairway. Cameramen videotaping on top of an oversized Hummer-looking golf carts, people buzzing around in expectation for Tiger’s next drive. One onlooker said, that the Tavistock Cup “lends a sense of greater occasion.”
On the 8th hole, with a 431-yard shot, Chopra did not hit the drive that he wanted and yells out, “Ah! Partner it’s all yours.” So, up steps All-American at Long Beach and two-time Major winner Mark O’Meara, and he hits a gorgeous shot slightly left favoring the lie of the hole. Afterwards, the crowds quickly flood the fairways to walk where the players themselves walk.
Many spectators enjoy the view in the luxury of their own backyard overlooking the hole. No matter where you look, it is a sea of blue and red shirts! Even the Bud Light and Budweiser are color-coded blue and red for the team you want to support.
Cameramen exchange a few words of how the economy has affected them – schedules are packed and companies are trimming the fat.
Approaching the greens, the players seem very relaxed and casual with still the tension of competition, but combined with a vibe of playing with their neighbor or friend. Which technically, it is their neighbor in this tournament! Very tranquil, not a great deal of ropes marking the greens; therefore, spectators can be as close as they would like (or almost as close as they want). There are certainly unwritten rules amongst the lifestyles of the upper echelon and proper golf etiquette that is practiced regularly. Let’s just say that this tournament is no exception, in fact, it may be considered the epitome.
In some cases, it’s easier said than done to not interfere with the game. You decide you want to approach the 7th hole walking from the putting green when much to your surprise, you are nearly hit by a golf ball mid-flight that lands 12 feet in front you just on the tip of the fairway. Or course curious to see who’s ball almost hit you, you look up to see the young Augusta native and 2007 Nissan Champion Charles Howell III.
You stroll on around to the 14th hole, where they seemed to have adjusted the tee box forward from the regular strong par 4, so that the players can drive it close to the green. Chris DiMarco fires a great drive, showing off some of his skills that helped him with three PGA tour wins. His fellow partner Henrik Stenson, also playing a solid game, was accompanied by caddy Fanny Sunesson, who is a legend in and of herself. She has caddied for Nick Faldo and Sergio Garcia.
It is amazing how this many people (drinking or not) can get so quiet when the golf Marshall holds up his hands to symbolize that the player is getting ready to strike a put. The greens at Lake Nona are by no means easy. The pros make it look easy, but truly the greens are fast and hilly (although most of Florida is naturally flat). The crowd quiets as if to hold their breath until the strike is made and the ball falls into the hole - a second favorite sound next to titanium hitting the ball on a drive!
Sadly day one came to an end with the new hope on the horizon for tomorrow’s adventure.
Day two:
Off you go again for your morning walk, this time much more intrigued about what else you’ll find and who you will see today. You decide to slip on a red shirt to attempt to easily blend in with the crowds. You arrive earlier than the day before. And now that you know your way around, you feel more confident approaching the grounds.
Instead of walking onto the golf course, you see to your left the driving range. There lined up is golf legend after legend warming up and hitting in harmony as if a symphony orchestra were warming up to play Beethoven’s finest. Behind them, proudly waiving in the wind are the dozen or so flags representing in honor those participating in this event. It brings joy to you to see the guys cutting up, laughing and high-fiving as they hit beautiful and powerful practice drives and perfectly rounded chip shots with ease.
To the right of the range, who catches your eye but long time South African, Ernie “Big E” Ells. With the 1994 and 1997 US Open and 2002 British Open wins under his belt, today is an enjoyable walk in the park – and it radiates in his face against his blue polo jersey shirt. Will today be the day his team Lake Nona will have victory in sight?
Equally confident is the best, the greatest, the Michael Jordan of Golf 65-time PGA tour event champion in his red polo jersey shirt Eldrick “Tiger” Woods. He looks relaxed but you know has winning on his mind. Paired up with him is the 28-year-old Nissan Champion Charles Howell III with serious drive and perseverance in his eyes. He is intense in his every movement.
As the pairs in foursomes, one at a time make their way to the tee’s, you watch and wait expectantly. You recognize today that you are in the presence of greatness and what will be a perfect day. You happen to pick up a program that outlines Round 2 and the score. It reads, “Round 2 will be a fourball singles medal match play format. Each player in the group plays an 18-hole stroke play singles match against each of the opposing two players; therefore, each player plays two singles matches. If there is a two-ball match, each player will play a singles match against their opponent. A win is worth one point, a tie is worth half point and a loss is worth zero points. In total, there will be 21 points awarded for Round 2. As a result it will take 16 points to win the Tavistock Cup and be crowned World Golf and Country Club Champion.”
Before you follow the players into the entrance, you are distracted today by the enormous merchandise tent filled with hats, golf balls, towels, ball markers, pictures and clothing of all sorts adorning the tent as if making a shrine to the Tavistock Cup. Sixty dollars later you find yourself at the first tee box wall on the 8th.
The baby blue sky is exquisite in the background of the big dreamy white billowy clouds. You pass scoreboards, concession stands and grab a hot dog and a beer and keep it moving. It’s not long before you, out of necessity, have to find the closest, not so conveniently located Johnny-on-the-spot.
You notice this afternoon as you continue your stroll that the mood has seemed to tilt with a favorable advantage to the blue team. You see some pretty close shots dropping on and around the bunkers. When rounding the back nine, you notice the impact of one small error a good miss can make or break a hole. Upon hole No. 10 sits eight astounding cars aligning the tee box sponsored by Audi.
And finally coming upon 18, you capture the back of the yellow country club in the distance with the end of the tournament fast approaching. You stay long enough to see the trophies handed out and the champaign sprayed amongst Ian Poulter and Justin Rose claiming victory on their home turf. Team Lake Nona won with a final score of 17 to 13 and crowned the World Golf and Country Club champion for the second time in the tournament’s six-year history. Graeme McDowell helped lead Team Lake Nona to victory and claimed the low medalist for day two posting a score of -6 (66). He took home the Payne Stewart Salver Award and the $300,000 prize. Team Lake Nona’s Justin Rose and Team Isleworth’s Darren Clarke and Stuart Appleby were runners-up with a score of -4 (68).
As you walk home, you reflect on the day. Events you usually only see on TV…you lived. The equipment, the pro golf balls, the belt buckles and watches they wear, the endorsements of shoes, hats, from head to toe covered in the best; is that what a golfer is really made of? You are quickly reminded of the blood, sweat and tears, the years of study, practice and determination with the passion of family behind them that truly makes up the golfer. As you reach your door step and grab for the door handle, for a split second you know what makes up you...what is on the other side of that door, whatever you call home. You know in your heart that is not only what a golfer is made of but what lies within each of us as individuals, regardless of our profession. Hopefully like the golfers, we can use our skills, talents, influence and money to also add to the betterment of the world around us.
