The Price is Right at the 2011 Principal Charity Classic!

By Mike Rickord

The fifth Principal Charity Classic returns to the Glen Oaks Country Club June 1st through the 5th in West Des Moines, Iowa and marks the 11th year that the Champions Tour has been in central Iowa. The 2010 winner of the Principal Charity Classic Nick Price graces our annual front cover as he returns to the stop on the tour that has been recognized as one of the player’s favorite venues on the Champions Tour. The 2011 tournament is quickly shaping up to be an incredible field with 25 of the tours top 30 money winners already committed to this week-long bash.

Jamie Alt and his staff have taken the momentum of this annual golf fest and again assembled household names that have walked the fairways of Glen Oaks for years. Jay Haas, Fuzzy Zoeller, Ben Crenshaw, Tom Kite, “The Walrus “ Craig Stadler, Nick Price and Fred Funk are just a few of the favorites along with Bernhard Langer, Corey Pavin and Paul Azinger. They will all be welcomed by deep galleries expressing appreciation for these aged 50 and older icons of the game that have discovered the elusive fountain of youth while tearing it up on the Champions Tour.

The 2010 Principal Charity Classic was truly memorable with worldwide hall of famer Nick Price hoisting the trophy as he continues to be an ambassador to worldwide golf. As was Seve Ballesteros, who we just lost this month and who was a great friend to many on the Champions Tour. I absolutely love the Champions Tour and my half century plus on the planet may have something to do with my man love for these guys, but holy Toledo can these guys play golf! If you have never attended the Principal Charity Classic it is a must do for any Iowa golf fan regardless of your age.
We Iowan’s are very spoiled when it comes to golf from a price and course perspective. Combine the availability of courses and pricing with this Champions Tour event in June and the John Deere Classic in the Quad Cities this July, which are all within easy driving distance, and Iowa may be one of America’s best kept secrets in the golf world.

The collegiate golf from NCAA D-I University of Iowa to NAIA Grandview University to D-III Central College has improved dramatically on the men’s and women’s side as every school in the state has raised the bar. This success is also evident in the high school programs across Iowa in every class and again on the boys and girls side of the sport. The IPGA and IGA have grass roots programs across the state that feed these high schools. Our improvement across Iowa can be traced to these programs located at all of the great club houses across Iowa and to the teaching pros that run these youth programs.

This is our 3rd largest edition of the year and it is a testament to the love that Iowans have for the great game of golf. I encourage you to initiate your children to the game at an early age and if you have not gotten the bug make certain to make 2011 the year that you tee it up as all of our golf course partners need your support with the spring and 2010 that they endured!

I thank you again for picking up our 13th anniversary golf issue of the Iowa Sports Connection. Be sure to log on to our website “iowasportsconnection.com” edition of “On the Tee” digital magazine and remember to listen and watch “On the Tee” every Wednesday night from 6-8 PM. The radio show is on “ESPN 1700 the Champ” our flagship and airs across Iowa with our affiliates from Sioux City to the Quad Cities. The TV broadcast in central Iowa is on WHO-TV 13.2 and Mediacom 113 and 246 and KCRG 9.2 and Mediacom 109 in northeast Iowa and streams on “iowasportsconnection.com” and “iowagolf.com”. Have a great month, hit em straight and we will see you at “The Principal Charity Classic.” As always, God Bless America!