Golf Group of the Week: Cold Beer Open

They’ve got a logo, custom apparel, create risqué bag tags and charge entry fees. They play a lot of golf and talk even more.

Yes, the boys of the Cold Beer Open know how to have a good time, and their recently completed trip to Myrtle Beach was no exception. Group leader John Powell of Burlington, N.C., organizes the annual trip six months in advance, an effort that used to require phone calls and follow up emails.

Ten years of good times have changed that.

Powell sends out an email now and people respond without prodding.

(A little history on how the group got its name: “We were standing in the garage one night trying to come up with a funny name and somebody cracked open a beer and said, ‘That’s what we will call it, the Cold Beer Open,” said Powell)

Players in the CBO arrive in Myrtle Beach prepared to play. From the custom bag tags, which are most notable for the scantily clad women who adorn them, to the hats, shirts and other apparel that sports the CBO logo, the group is unique.

“The difference between our group (and some others) is friendship,” Powell said. “We started with a group of eight of us and everyone has invited someone. The cool thing is when you see these guys come in you wouldn’t think they would be friends. We have doctors, lawyers, carpenters, mechanics and every imaginable occupation in the group.”

After 10 years of standard trips, separating guys by handicap and playing an individual tournament, the CBO switched to a Ryder Cup format in 2010, making it more Cold Beer Cup than Open. Scott Tolley was picked to captain the East team and David Hoover led the West side. Each captain picked seven other team members and the three-day battle for the cup was on.

The three “official” Cold Beer Cup rounds consisted of alternate shot, captain’s choice and singles play. How did the new format go over? We talked to one of the group’s longtime members and the man who designed the CBO logo.

Name: David Williams
Hometown: Burlington, N.C.
Handicap: 13
Favorite Club: Lob wedge
Favorite Myrtle Beach Golf Course: True Blue
What courses did you play this year?
Parkland, Heathland, Moorland, Heritage Club and Oyster Bay.

How was the change to a Ryder Cup type format received?
The Ryder Cup format was a huge hit.  With the other format we had been using, many of the golfers were out of the tournament by the first or second day and they really didn't care too much about the last couple of rounds.  The Cold Beer Cup came down to the last day (East was up by 2 points when the Sunday singles started).  The West team won four more matches than the East on Sunday and took the cup by 2 points.  Everyone's round counted on Sunday, so everyone was excited about playing and they all said it was the best golf format we had ever played.  We will definitely continue to use the format.

Why do you make an annual golf trip?
The camaraderie, no doubt. The guys are awesome.

Why is Myrtle Beach for your golf destination?
You have great places to stay, excellent restaurants, and the golf courses are absolutely beautiful and they are always in great shape.