by Asher Wildman
ATLANTA, Georgia -- Ever wonder what
it is
that tournament directors actually do, aside
from
being the main voice on the walkie-talkie?
As Edward
Toledano, tournament director for the
Dogwood
Invitational, can tell you, the job is
anything but
boring.
Toledano has been a member of Druid
Hills Golf
Club in Atlanta since 1993 and has
volunteered for
the tournament since 2000, when he was
then the
sponsorship director. Since then, he has
helped
continue to build the Dogwood Invitational
into an
elite amateur tournament that players
hope to add
to their schedules.
Here are six things you might not have
known
about a tournament director’s job, as told
by
Toledano.
1. It’s a big
checklist. We begin the
tournament
planning in July, when we do a full debrief
by all
committee heads, and list ways in which
we can
improve and how we execute. We discuss
everything from locations of volunteers on
course
spotting to the type of food that is served.
We also
review with the club staff all the aspects of
service
and running of events outside the
tournament proper
(Am-Am, practice round and sponsors
event, junior
clinic and long drive, members-players
long drive
on Friday night and the “Between the Tees”
party
that follows).
2. We want repeat
customers/players.
We review the field, how the
course was
set up and how the scoring went - all this in
an
effort to improve and smooth out the next
year. Our
biggest focus is to run a fun tournament
that allows
players to enjoy the elite competition on
the
course, while ... enjoying the Southern
hospitality
that we have been known for. It is my belief
that if
we run a top-notch event that provides for
the
enjoyment and camaraderie to prevail, the
competition of the best amateurs will shine,
and
bring them back to us year after year.
3. Preparation is key.
We go
into full-bore tournament prep in January,
refining
our Web site and reviewing the amateur
player
landscape. Our sponsorship sales begin in
February
and continue until mid-June. Volunteer
registration
kicks off in May, as does our media push
for
coverage. Golf course preparation begins in
April.
Invitations are sent to players in mid-March
based
upon rankings, major events won, prior
play in the
Dogwood and amateur record.
4. Odds and ends.
We offer
housing at our members’ homes for all
players, and
have nearly 50 of the 84 players accept. We
have a
tournament hotel as well. Our members
become
lifelong friends with many of the players
(i.e., Ray
Beaufils, now a pro on the Nationwide Tour
is
playing out of Druid Hills and stays with the
family
that housed him for the three years he
played in the
Dogwood). We also provide breakfast,
lunch and
two dinners for players during the week,
have a
junior exhibition clinic for our junior golfers
where
players put on an exhibition, host a junior
long-
drive event and have a members/players
long drive
and “cut” party (between the tees).
5. We like to help.
Two other
very important things (and perhaps the
most
unique): We are a charitable foundation and
raise
funds to support Atlanta Junior Golf and the
Wayne
Reynolds Scholarship Foundation. Atlanta
Junior
Golf holds over 100 tournaments in Atlanta
from
May until November for 1,200 junior golfers
ages 9-
16. The Reynolds Foundation provides
college
scholarships to junior golfers from the
state of
Georgia. Twenty-four recipients of the
$12,000, four-
year scholarship have been selected since
1994.
6. Lots of thank yous.
I get
to work with a great committee. I have
chair
people of invitations, media, player housing,
qualifying, food and beverage, officials,
entertainment and volunteers, tremendous
staff
support at Druid Hills, and a very supporting
membership. It’s that collaborative team
effort that
makes our event great.
ABOUT THE
Dogwood Invitational
Tournament week is June 6-11 at Druid Hills
Golf
Club
in
Atlanta, Georgia. The entry fee includes
breakfast
and lunch
tournament days as
well
as special events.
The history of this prestigious event extends
back to
1941, when legendary amateur Tommy Barnes
captured his first of five Dogwood titles.
Evolving
with
the times, the modern Dogwood has produced
fine
champions like Webb Simpson (’07), Brian
Harman
(’09), Dawson Armstrong (’15), and in 2019
Brandon
Mancheno. This
evolution can
be
seen also in our course renovations and set-up,
our
relaxed tournament atmosphere, and our spirit
of
social
responsibility.
Players are required to walk during tournament
play
and may carry their golf bag themselves (push
carts are
allowed) or take a caddie. Caddies may be
requested
in advance during registration, or players may
select
one on their own.
Player housing is provided on an as available
basis to
players only, caddies and traveling
companions are not
provided housing.
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