The Celtic Couples Challenge in Florida

The Inaugural Florida Celtic Couples Challenge was a resounding success. The final was held at Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club in Sarasota on April 30th 2010 when Rick & Penny Clatt from Quail Creek in Naples won a fantastic $10,000 golf trip to Ireland competing against 17 other Country Clubs in Florida. The golf professionals from the participating clubs shared a $2,000 purse in prize money. Trophies were awarded for low gross but the big prize was for low net. The award ceremony and dinner were held at the exclusive ‘Lake Club’ and couples from all over the State had a wonderful opportunity to meet like minded golfers from all over the State.
Winning couple (rt) Rick & Penny Clatt from Quail Creek in Naples with Mike Dero Head Golf Professional and Jane Imperiale CEO of ‘Celtic Couples Challenge’.

Planning for The 2011 Celtic Challenge is already underway and Quail Valley in Vero Beach hosting the final on April 30th 2011. This stunning golf community is Sectional host to the US Open next year.
Clubs already signed up for the Challenge include:
Bay Hill, Black Diamond, Reunion and Keenes Pointe near Orlando, Orchid Island, Old Palm, Quail Valley, Fort Lauderdale CC, Coral Ridge & TPC Sawgrass on the East Coast and Avila, Black Diamond, Pelican Marsh, Olde Cypress, Quail Creek, The Concession, Laurel Oak, The Oaks, IMG and Lakewood Ranch on the West coast.

If your Club has an active couples section then taking part in the Challenge is easy. You arrange a couples event at your club which will be your ‘qualifier’ sending the winning couple to the final. This past year, Avila and Quail Creek held the qualifier as an add-on to their couples member guest tournament, TPC Sawgrass held it with their Couples Club Championship and Old Palm and Orchid Island held it on a day already scheduled as a couples Sunday event. Whatever works for you, your members and your calendar is great as long as you have a winning couple to send to the final by early April 2011. The format for the final will be a Modified Chapman, net handicap tournament and there will be a host of other prizes for the runner ups.


Each participating club may send one couple and one club professional to the final for an entry fee of $1,000.00. If your event is well promoted and gets good attendance it will bring the cost per person down considerably.

The successful couple will once again win a fabulous golf trip to Ireland in 2011 which will be organised by Carr Golf Travel - the Premier Golf Travel Company in Ireland and Scotland. (Picture left: Marty & Roddy Carr with Arnold Palmer at The Old Head of Kinsale)

For all enquiries please contact Jane Imperiale by email: janeimperiale@hotmail.com or telephone 973-508-5121.

Testimonials

Hi Jane,

Our winning couple had an excellent experience at the Celtic Challenge! Thank you very much for giving them the five star treatment. I know they will pass on to the other members - Matt Borocz, PGA ,Head Golf Professional,TPC SAWGRASS

Jane,

Thanks so much for an awesome day - Great course, good company and a very nice party! You did a wonderful job organizing and "grinding it out" to make it work - well done. I know I learned a few things about how to better approach things next year. Thanks again for your time and effort. Let me know how I can help in the future - MATT AUEN, DIRECTOR OF GOLF , LAUREL OAK COUNTRY CLUB , FLORIDA

Dear Jane,

I just wanted to tell you, what a great job you all did on the Celtic Challenge. Even though we did not win a trip and bring home glory to LOCC, it was a fun day and very nice dinner and prize celebration. It does make us think about golfing in Ireland, maybe not this year, but sometime in the future! Good job!! - Eleanor Harding, Winner of Laurel Oak Qualifier

Hi Jane

I had a great time and I know the Ingrams did as well! The golf course was in great shape and the experience was amazing.

Thanks again for the great event on Friday - Matthew Allen | Inside Golf Operations Manager | Reunion Resort