As Scott Turner held the Gasparilla Invitational’s skull-shaped trophy on Saturday, he took a moment to appreciate the scene around him. Hundreds of spectators surrounded the green, cheering and applauding their new champion. For the mid-amateur from Stuart, Florida, it was a surreal experience.
“It’s unlike anything else,” Turner said. “This crowd is unlike anything we see all year.”
Turner won the Gasparilla’s 70th edition, finishing 4-under with rounds of 68-69-69 at Palma Ceia Golf and Country Club in Tampa, Florida – one stroke better than Steele Dewald and Will Davenport. The Gasparilla is one of the top mid-amateur tournaments in the country, and it’s undeniable much of that is because of the support of Palma Ceia’s members. While the perception of private clubs may be that members would be unhappy to give up exclusive access to their facilities and golf course to host a tournament, that certainly isn’t the case at Palma Ceia. They aim to treat the competitors as family, creating a unique atmosphere in mid-am golf as a result.
“The membership is unbelievable,” Turner said. “In a lot of the invitationals we perform in, there is support from the membership, but this is on a whole different level.”
From the moment the Gasparilla invitees arrive at Palma Ceia, they receive a member number, a locker and full access to all the facilities.
“This is peak golf season, but there’s no question that this is Gasparilla week,” said Kevin Dutkowsky, a Palma Ceia member and longtime participant in the event. “It’s built into the fabric of the course and the club.”
“The membership is unbelievable. In a lot of the invitationals we perform in, there is support from the membership, but this is on a whole different level.”
Scott Turner
The Gasparilla has roots that go back nearly a century. For four years starting in 1932, Palma Ceia hosted the Gasparilla Open, with Walter Hagen capturing his 44th PGA Tour title there in ’35. In 1956, the Gasparilla resumed as an event for amateurs and Palma Ceia members and has stayed that way since.
Joe Hodge is the director of golf and a member at Palma Ceia. The 66-year-old has been playing at the club since he was 6 years old, winning the first of four club championships when he was 15 and participating in four Gasparilla Invitationals. Hodge understands how important the tournament is to the club, and he says it’s crucial the participants are treated not as outsiders, but as family.
“Our membership is 1,000 percent behind the tournament,” Hodge said. “We want to make them feel at home.”
And it seems like the players really feel that way. Davenport, 32, is the reigning Florida State Golf Association amateur and mid-amateur player of the year. The 70th Gasparilla Invitational was his fourth time playing in the event, and he finished T2, shooting 66-70-71. Davenport plays in about 10 mid-amateur tournaments per year, but he says the members at Palma Ceia make the Gasparilla Invitational special.
“Members at other clubs are not always universally engaged in the tournament the way members at Palma Ceia are,” Davenport said.
Davenport says the members create an electric atmosphere, especially for a mid-amateur event.
“In other tournaments you can pick your girlfriend or mom out of the crowd pretty fast,” Davenport said. “A handful of people are following your group at best. If you’re in contention at Gasparilla, the number of people following is likely measured in hundreds.”
Turner has had similar experiences with sparse galleries at other tournaments.
“Sometimes it can get kind of eerie,” Turner said. “As you get down the stretch there might be more officials on the course than players.”
Dutkowsky agrees with Davenport and Turner. He says he tries to find time to play in six to eight mid-amateur events a year, but there is nothing like the Gasparilla Invitational.
“It’s unmatched from any of the other events I play in,” Dutkowsky said. “Some of the larger USGA events can pull some big crowds, but those are big championships. We feel like we host a big championship here, too.”
Dutkowsky was one of 10 Palma Ceia members to play in this year’s tournament. No matter the outcome, Dutkowsky enjoys representing the club.
“We consider it one of the highest honors at the club to be able to represent Palma Ceia,” said Dutkowsky, who missed the cut this year.
Another playing member was Jack Watters, who has competed in the event about 15 times. Watters also missed the cut, and he says it’s humbling to play against some of the country’s top mid-ams. Despite the challenge, he loves the experience.
“The Gasparilla has always been close to my heart,” Watters said. “It’s always been a part of my dream to be part of it.”
For the players, the members and everyone else involved, the Gasparilla is an unforgettable experience.
“The members are proud of their club and they should be,” Turner said. “They show off their club to a talented field of mid-ams and create a very cool atmosphere.”
E-MAIL EVERETT
Top: Scott Turner celebrates after winning the Gasparilla Invitational.
Ben Adelberg, The Back of the Range