2005 NCAA DIVISION III MEN’S GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS

Mission Inn Golf & Tennis Resort
Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida
May  9 – 12, 2005

Hosted by:

Dear Coach:

On behalf of the Central Florida Sports Commission and Oglethorpe University, we are pleased to extend the following information on the upcoming  NCAA Division III Men’s Golf Championships, held at the Mission Inn Golf & Tennis Resort in Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida.

The tournament will be played as a 72-hole stroke play event taking place from Monday May 9th to Thursday May 12th with the practice round on Sunday May 8^th at 12:30 pm.

Mission Inn offers a variety of recreational activities along with its award winning accommodations all tucked away on over 640 acres of rolling hills.

A pre-tournament registration will take place in the hotel lobby, Saturday, May 7^th from 6pm – 9pm and Sunday, May 8^th from 8am – 9am at the same location.  We will be collecting your team’s line-up and distributing tournament gift bags at this time. 

Should you need anything else or have any other questions, please don’t hesitate on contacting Joe Fellini at 407.648.4900 ext. 21.  Good luck, and we look forward to seeing you at Mission Inn.

Sincerely,

Mission Inn Resort:  800.874.9053

Overflow hotels in the area:

• Inn on the Green: 800.935.2935
• Holiday Inn: 352.742.1600

For reservations after April 28th, 2005:

• Howard Johnson: 352.429.9033
• Sleep Inn: 352.326.9002

Key Contact List:  Coordinators

• Chuck Kelsey, Director of National Sales, Mission Inn Golf and Tennis Resort
  Phone: 352.324.3101 Ext. 7164
  E-mail: ckelsey@missioninnresort.com
• Tournament Director:  Joe Fellini, Central Florida Sports Commission
  126 East Lucerne Circle Orlando, Fl 32801
  Phone: 407.648.4900 Ext. 21
  E-mail: jfellini@orlandosports.org
• Director of Tournament Operations:  Brent Nelson, Central Florida Sport Commission
  Phone: 407.648.4900 Ext. 17
  E-mail: bnelson@orlandosports.org 
• Tournament Manager:  Jay Gardiner, Oglethorpe University, Athletic Director
  Phone: 404.364.8414
  E-mail: jgardiner@oglethorpe.edu
• Tournament Host Coach:  Jim Owen, Oglethorpe University
  Phone: 404.364.8420
  E-mail: jowen@oglethorpe.edu
• Tournament Host Coach:  Adam Pry, Oglethorpe University
  E-mail: apry@oglethorpe.edu
• Tournament Media Coordinator and Scoreboard: Pat Maginnis
  Phone: 800.875.7888 ext. 105
  E-mail: patmaginnis@golfnet.com
• NCAA Staff Liaison: Donnie Wagner
  Phone:  317.917.6222
  E-mail: dwagner@ncaa.org
• Tournament Scoring: Golfstat, www.golfstat.com

NCAA Division III Golf Committee: Chair, Dan Ruyle, Southwestern University; Brad Bankston, Old Dominion Athletic Conference; Dennie Bridges, Illinois Wesleyan; Richard Mueller, New York University; Jim Tinkey, LaRoche College; Nancy van Hoozier, Olivet College.

Pairings and Results: One copy for each team will be available in the hotel lobby at the front desk as soon as possible after each round.
 

Important Reminders for Coaches

Registration:

• Saturday, May 7, 6pm-9:30pm (Hotel Lobby)
• Sunday, May 8, 7am-8am (Hotel Lobby)

NCAA Banquet:
The banquet will take place on Sunday, May 8 at 7:30pm in the Conference Center Ballroom.  The NCAA will provide six tickets for each team, additional tickets may be purchased for assistant coaches, school personnel, friends and family for $30 through Chuck Kelsey @ ckelsey@missioninnresort.com or by phone at 352.324.3101.  The dress for the banquet will be coat and tie.  Seating will not be an issue in the ballroom.

GCAA Banquet:
The Golf Coaches Association of America Division III National Awards Banquet will take place on Thursday, May 12 at 7:30pm in the Conference Center Ballroom.  This is a "Golf Casual" event (no t-shirts, jeans, shorts or tennis shoes). The event will take present the following awards:

• The Cleveland Golf All-America Scholars
• The Ping All-American and All-Region Team
• The Eaton Golf Pride Regional and National Coaches of the Year
• The Phil Mickelson Freshman of the Year and All-Freshman Team
• The Jack Nicklaus Player of the Year presented by Dillards Inc. and Hartmarx Corp.
• The Outback Steakhouse Arnold Palmer National Championship Medalist

Coaches that are members of the GCAA receive a complimentary ticket, players tickets will be $25 per person.  For ticket information contact Sharon Beery @ 1.866.422.2669.  Tickets to the GCAA will be available for parents, friends and family for $40.

Breakfast:
The La Hacienda Restaurant on the lower level of the hotel will host a complimentary continental breakfast between 6am and 10am, Sunday-Friday. As a special tournament benefit the Mission Inn is offering their full hot breakfast option for $4.00 per person. Please alert your server or the hostess if you and your team would like to upgrade to the full breakfast. You can charge it to your room or pay with cash or credit card to your server.  

Pictures:
Brown and Company Sports Portraits will be on site Sunday, May 8. Pictures will be taken between 10:00am and noon. The location will be near the club house. 

Practice Round assignments/announcements:
At 12:05 have your team/individual on the putting green where announcements will be made. Golf carts, eight passenger carts and the shuttle bus will move players/coaches to their starting holes beginning at 12:10. On holes where two teams are scheduled to start the team scheduled to tee off first is asked to hit at 12:20 and move to their tee shots, at 12:30 teams either in the fairway or on a tee box will proceed with the start. There will be no siren.

Lunch Buffet:
Nickers Restaurant at the Clubhouse will host a lunch buffet Monday through Thursday for teams, coaches, parents, spectators and tournament personnel at a cost of $8.25 per person. The buffet will be open from 11am-3pm. The buffet includes drink, dessert bar and an ice cream bar every day. Daily menus will be available at Nickers.

Meetings:
The mandatory coaches’ meeting will be held on Sunday May, 8^th at 9:00pm in the El Moro Meeting Room.  We will review the format, procedures and any other pertinent information at this meeting.

Media Services:
Posted scores and golf statistics, which will be coordinated by Oglethorpe University and the Tournament Committee, will be available throughout the tournament.  Coaches, be available as soon as each competition day concludes for local members of the media.

Hospitality Area:
A hospitality area will be available during the competition rounds of the tournament between the 4th green and the 5th tee (the location is also between the 13th green and 14th tee).  The hospitality area will be open to tournament officials, coaching staff, committee members and participants.  Fruit, snacks, water, soda and Powerade will be available.

Tournament Websites:

• NCAA Web Site 
• Oglethorpe NCAA Golf Championship site
  The Oglethorpe site will provide direct links to the Golf Course site, Golfstat, and more.

Rules:
The Rules of the United States Golf Association govern play at the NCAA Golf Championships.  Please note the following:

• Stroke Play (see Rule 6-6)
  After each hole the marker should check the score with the competitor and record it.  On the completion of the round the marker shall sign the card and hand it to the competitor.  The competitor should check his score for each hole, and settle any doubtful points with the NCAA Rules Committee.  The competitor shall ensure that the marker has signed the card, countersign the card himself and return it to the NCAA Rules Committee immediately.
   

After your team is selected for the NCAA Tournament:

Championship Portal

The NCAA and Short’s Travel Management have been working to provide new technology to make championships travel as easy and efficient as possible.  One of the initiatives is a Web site for teams to submit their travel parties and manifests, as well as preferred departure cities and times, to Short’s well before selections take place.  It is our hope that by using these tools, teams can eliminate many of the initial phone calls and faxes, as well as extensive wait times, they have experienced in the past.  Institutions have been assigned a username and password for the system that has been sent to their director of athletics.  Before selections, and as early as mid-October, team administrators should go online to www.shortstravel.com/ncaachamps and submit a tentative travel party list.  After the selection for the championship, travel options will be posted to the team’s webpage in the portal.  The team can then review the options and call Short’s to discuss or confirm their travel plans.

Airline Reservations and Tickets

All airline reservations must be made through Short’s Travel in order to receive the NCAA guarantee for air travel.  Airline reservations must match the name exactly as it appears on the photo identification.  The Association pays for the  tickets for official traveling party members and those individuals qualified to compete.  Short’s maintains a 24-hour toll-free telephone service to enable individuals to make or change reservations the number is 866.655.9215.

Van Rental

Dollar Rent-a-Car, located at 2510 Jetport Drive near the Orlando Airport, has set up a special price for all rental cars and vans rented for the NCAA Division III National Championship. Cars start out at $33 per day and $149 for the week. 8-passenger vans start at $69 per day and $299   for the week.  12-passenger vans will be $79 per day and $399 for the week. You can log on to their web site at http://www.dollar.com or call their toll free number (866) 542-2303 or (407) 583-8000. You must enter the promotional code, OI6027.  They have reserved enough 12 passenger vans for each team.

NCAA Special Events
For questions, please contact Stacey Preston, Manager of Special Events, at 317.917.6578 or via email at spreston@ncaa.org

Host Communications
The Sports Information Director or Coach of your institution should rush information including; Media guides if available, roster (including name, class, hometown, letters earned, etc.), and a team picture with names to

Ashley Beavers
Host Communications, Inc.
904 N. Broadway
Lexington, KY 40505
Phone: 859.226.4550
Fax: 859.226.4575
E-mail: ashley.beavers@hostcommunications.com

Located in Lake County at the Intersection of County Road 48 and State Road 19

• From Orlando: {a} Take Florida’s Turnpike North to Exit 285.  Turn left on US 27 South, one block.  Turn left on SR 19 North to Howey-in-the-Hills, 6 miles.  Driving time: 35 minutes.    OR    {b} Take Hwy 441 North to Tavares.  Turn left on SR 19 South to Howey-in-the-Hills, 7 miles.  Driving time: 35-45 minutes.
   
• From Orlando International Airport: Take Beeline Expressway 528 West to Florida’s Turnpike.  Take the Turnpike North to Exit 285.  Turn Left on US 27 South, one block.  Turn left on SR 19 North to Howey-in-the-Hills, 6 miles.  Driving time: 45 minutes. 
   
• From Miami: Take Florida’s Turnpike North to Exit 285.  Turn left on US 27 South, one block.  Turn left on SR 19 North to Howey-in-the-Hills, 6 miles.  Driving time: 4 hours. 
   
• From Tampa: Take I-75 North to Hwy 50.  Turn right on Hwy 50 East to Groveland.  Turn left on SR 19 North to Howey-in-the-Hills, 13 miles.  Driving time: 1.5 hours. 
   
•  From Jacksonville: Take I-10 West to Hwy 17 South to Palatka.  Take SR 19 south through the Ocala National Forest to Eustis.  Turn right on Hwy 441 to SR 19 South to Tavares.  Turn left on SR 19 South to Howey-in-the-Hills, 7 miles.   Driving time: 2.5 hours. 
   
• From Atlanta: Take I-75 South to Florida’s Turnpike South to exit 289.  Turn right on US 27 South.  Turn left on SR 19 North to Howey-in-the-Hills, 6 miles.  Driving time: 7.5 hours.

• El Conquistador: Overlooking the Plaza de la Fontana, the picturesque setting and smoke-free environment offer a relaxing way to end the perfect day.  Dinner only.  Resort casual attire (no shorts, tee shirts or jeans) to elegant attire.  Seats 82.
   

• La Hacienda: A spectacular restaurant of casual, country elegance, exudes all of the warmth and charm of a plush, private estate.  The inviting, sky-lit foyer features a 22-foot ceiling and an open fireplace with guarding columns.  The glass and stained oak doors wrap the room with natural light and provide spectacular views of the famous 17th hole and the Plaza de la Fontana.  Permanent buffet area.  Breakfast, lunch, and Sunday Brunch.  Resort casual attire.  Seats 200.
   

• Nicker’s: A captivating restaurant and lounge just a chip shot from our 1st tees.  We recommend the casual resort atmosphere of Nicker’s for fun, great food and spectacular view of championship golf.  Lunch, dinner and Saturday Night Prime Rib and Seafood Buffet.  Resort casual attire.  Seats 170.
   

• La Margarita: Overlooking the enchanting Plaza las Palmas, La Martarita is open evenings serving appetizers, sandwiches, burgers and beverages.