Low Country Battle Royale

The Low Country Battle Royale commonly referred to as the (LCBR) is an annual golf tournament held each October near Savannah, Georgia. The tournament started in 2006 in St. Augustine, Florida at the World Golf Village and World Golf Hall of Fame and features 2-man teams competing in a 36-hole better ball event commonly known as Fourball. The current home of the tournament is the Savannah Quarters Country Club located in Pooler, Georgia. Pooler is part of the Savannah Metropolitan Area and lies just west of the city and historic district. The tournament is best known for the lavish treatment given to its contestants (food, drink, gifts, etc., although without cable television) and its uniquely Southern hospitality. "This ain't no tanktop and beer swillin' crowd", commented one observer. "These guys are out there sippin' on top shelf liquors, wearing their shirt collars pointed up, and I'll be damned if they aren't makin' some birdies, too."

One of the LCBR's most anticipated moments is the annual pre-tournament "Champion's Dinner" hosted by the prior year's winning team. An occasional cork or two will typically be popped prior to the team selection blind-draw and associated jackassery. Participants of the LCBR have had a particular fetish with Silver Oak Cellars California cabernet sauvignon over the years.

Low Country Battle Royale Grand Champions: 2006 - Jason Lueneburg (Jacksonville, Florida), 2007 - Ross Leinweber, 2008 - Jay Sanders, 2009 - Joe McCreery and David Stephenson, 2010 - Joe McCreery and David Stephenson. 2011 - Derek Griffin and Todd Holleman.

The 2009 version concluded in dramatic fashion. With an against all odds "BIRDSTRIKE" chip-in from behind the green on the 36th hole by David Stephenson, the McCreery/Stephenson team went to -5, one shot better than the team of previous grand champions, Leinweber/Lueneburg who settled for the 2009 runners-up.

During the 2010 LCBR, Msssrs. McCreery and Stephenson became the first ever back-to-back champions of the event with an impressive four shot victory. Mr. Stephenson invidually was the class of the field, scoring an impressive 73-74=147 two day total.

The Low Country Battle Royale has been referred to as the 'off season' Snyder Cup in some circles. Critics of the event have openly commented on the excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages (most notably "Irish Car Bombs", the official drink of the tournament). Blamed largely on the consumption of alcohol, such tomfoolery and overall poor judgment has been demonstrated by many (most) of the participants on and off the golf course. This is perfectly acceptable and largely anticipated.

On December 7, 2009, the executive committee of the LCBR announced that it had respectfully rescinded its "invitation in perpituity" previously extended to Eldrick "Tiger" Woods. The Low Country Battle Royale stated that the golfers actions and indiscretions "speak for themselves" and declined further comment.

On April 11, 2010 the executive committee of the LCBR announced that it had respectfully granted an "invitation in perpituity" to Tom Watson. Mr. Watson's exceptional loyalty, multi-faceted commitment to the game and high caliber of play for many decades garnered this unique privilege.

In a watershed moment for the LCBR, the team of Derek Griffin and Todd Holleman followed up their win at the inaugural one club night golf tournament by taking a 4-stroke lead over the field into the final round of the 2011 LCBR, turning Saturday's final round into less of a competition than a victory parade. Their historic, record-setting display of dominance, eliminated every iota of drama from Saturday's final. In carding a record 13 under par score, they drained every ounce of blood and sucked every molecule of oxygen from their fellow competitors, all of whom were left merely playing for second place and a writing pen that easily doubled for a high school graduation gift.

But even in the face of that reality, their fellow competitors knew the final round would be more than that, a string of tiny numbers in tiny boxes that in a way would make up the coordinates of LCBR's future. After a four-hour stroll around the hollowed grounds of Savannah Quarters, soaking in adoration from the huge crowds, the two hoisted the championship trophies for the first of what will likely be many championships in this team's promising career. Much is expected of this duo as they defend in 2012.