To Determine the Best Golfer in the Greater Kansas City Golf Community
The National Golf Club of Kansas City | Parkville, MO | June 7-9th, 2013
The area’s forty-eight best golfers will meet at the National Golf Club of Kansas City next June to once again determine Kansas City’s best golfer.
“We are thrilled to be heading to the National Golf Club for this year’s Watson,” said Challenge Director Matt Williams. “We think it will be a very interesting dynamic considering Mr. Watson played such a large role in the design of the golf course.”
- Click the Photo for a Video Clip on The Watson Challenge
The Watson Challenge brings together the top amateurs and local professionals for a 54 hole stroke play championship. The event namesake, Tom Watson, will once again be in the field for this year’s event.
“There will come a day when I can’t compete with these young guys, but that day isn’t here yet,” quipped Watson. “This event is very important to me, and I want to play as long as I can,” continued Watson. “Since the first Watson Challenge in 2007, we have had a great impact on competitive golf in Kansas City. Participation in regional events is up and we have made over $312,000 in donations to the First Tee through this event.”
The National Golf Club will be a stark contrast to last year’s host Indian Hills Country Club.
“We can stretch the National out to around 7,038 yards this year and it is likely we will play it very close to its full yardage each day,” said Williams. “Indian Hills is all about finding the fairway. Each tee ball is lined with enormous trees. At the National, you can hit it offline in places and still have a shot, but you will have a much longer club coming into each green.”
The National Golf Club opened to rave reviews in 2000 and is owned by Neal Patterson and Cliff Illig.
The 2013 chairman for the Watson Challenge is National Golf Club member Mr. Mark Henderson. Mr. Henderson is an avid golfer with a 10.2 handicap index and serves as the Chief Operating Officer of the Lockton Companies. Henderson will lead the fundraising and organizational efforts for this year’s challenge. “It is an honor for our club to host this event in 2013,” said Henderson. “It is obviously very special to have Mr. Watson involved in the event, and we are excited to see how the area’s best players in Kansas City tackle our golf course. We plan to put on a great event for everyone involved and cannot wait for June to get here!”