Around the Green

Excitement Builds For Inaugural Texas Shamble

Adding a new tournament to the TGA schedule creates a mixture of excitement and apprehension around the office, especially one as unique as the Texas Shamble.
 
Scheduled to be played Nov. 7-8 on the Apple Rock Course at the famed Horseshoe Bay Resort, the Texas Shamble is the TGA’s first tournament ever to feature men’s, women’s and mixed teams. 
 
“There are quite a few golf associations in the U.S. that offer a mixed event and I knew they were popular for those groups,” said Kelly Kilgo, the TGA’s Senior Director of Membership Services. “I was really hoping that it would be a hit for the Texas Golf Association as well.” 
 
As the countdown continued to the registration opening date, anxious tournament organizers kept wondering: Will our members like what we’re trying to do? Will they embrace the notion that tournament golf can also be part of our Fun Golf initiative? Will anyone sign up?
 
Those fears were quickly laid to rest when entries for the inaugural Texas Shamble opened at 9 a.m. on Sept 16. Within three hours, more than 20 teams had signed up to play, including 15 mixed teams.
 
“I have been looking forward to this event all year, so I thought it was great to see all of these men and women sign up,” said Kilgo. I received multiple calls from some of the players that signed up letting me know how happy they were to see a mixed flight included.”  
 
The tournament format will be a two-person shamble with handicaps, flights and competitive prizes. In a Shamble format, both players hit tee a tee shot, select the better shot and play their own ball from that point until the ball is holed. The team records the better of the two scores as the team score for each hole.
 
Designed by legendary architect Robert Trent Jones Sr., Apple Rock opened in 1986 and was promptly named as “Best New Resort Course” by Golf Digest. Widely known as one of the most scenic courses in the state, Apple Rock encompasses 147 acres of the rolling Texas Hill Country along the shores of Lake LBJ and is a delight for players of all skill levels.
 
“The Texas Shamble is going to be a lot of fun,” said Kilgo. It will be a little more social than our other competitions and we will have contests, daily raffles, and gross and net prizes.  I’m looking forward to being a part of the first Shamble ever and I know that Horseshoe Bay will roll out the red carpet for the players.”