Hospitality Award
Each year, the Invitational hosts numerous social activities, including a three-point contest in 2017.
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Chris Dernick has served as the Tournament Chairman since 2009.
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The CB&I / Simplify Boys Championship at Carlton Woods has been named the recipient of the 2017 Hospitality Award by the American Junior Golf Association.
Each year, the AJGA presents awards to the tournaments with the best individual hospitality, Junior-Am Fundraising Tournament, charitable giving and volunteer base. Awards are also given to the events with engaged media and social media participation. Finally, the AJGA recognizes the year’s most outstanding golf professional, superintendent and general manager, as well as the most improved event, best new event, best Junior Golf Hub Preview Series tournament, best ACDS Junior All-Star Series tournament, best Invitational and overall tournament of the year. Tournament awards for the 2017 season will be presented on-site at 2018 tournaments.
“It’s wonderful, you want to provide a memorable experience for the juniors and their families and our sponsors so hopefully that’s what we are doing,” said Chris Dernick, Tournament Chairman. “I had kids that played in AJGA tournaments, so I know these are memorable experiences that they learn a lot from. It can really impact their lives.”
Dernick has been a longtime supporter of the AJGA. Her children played in AJGA events and through the years she has volunteered her time in various capacities with the AJGA. Each year she and the tournament committee strive to make the CB&I / Simplify Boys Championship at Carlton Woods among the best tournaments in the country, from both a competition and hospitality standpoint.
“We have an amazing head professional in Jason Alexander and a really great committee whose goal is to make it the best Invitational on the AJGA schedule,” Dernick said. “We also have great sponsors. Without them we would be limited in what we can do. Between our sponsors and club, we have a really strong support structure.”
The tournament earned the award by providing an incredible experience for the players both on and off the golf course. The tournament annually has incredible support from volunteers. Their support helps provide standard bearers, live scoring help and rovers throughout the golf course to make sure players have plenty of water. The tournament also provides multiple social activities to provide players an outlet off the golf course. In 2017 the featured events included laser tag, a 3-point shooting contest, a golf ball cannon, putting and chipping challenges, ping-pong and other arcade games. On top of the activities, players were also treated to meals each day with an ice cream bar and milkshakes made to order.
“Chris Dernick and the entire committee put on a great tournament for our juniors,” said Darren Nelson, AJGA South Central Senior Regional Director. “Every aspect of hospitality is thought of and provided for these junior golfers and that makes it one of the most loved tournaments on our schedule.”
Basing the tournament around a patriotic theme, the Awards Ceremony features a bagpiper and a military flyover. Members of the local ROTC tend the flag on No. 18 and other military members announce players at the starting tees. The membership at The Club at Carlton Woods embraces the event and theme and always come out to watch and volunteer in support of the event.
The AJGA Simplify Boys Championship at Carlton Woods is being held February 16-19, 2018.