Oglebay Park hosts a number of eagerly anticipated events every year. This May, at both the Arnold Palmer and Robert Trent Jones golf courses, the facility will add another milestone to its list.
The Park is playing host to the NCAA Division III men’s golf national championship tournament from May 9 through May 14.
This will be the first Division III national championship in any sport hosted in West Virginia. Bethany, the host college, happens to be the only Division III school in the state. But this is also the Presidents’ Athletic Conference first national championship event awarded to any of its member schools.
“This is the first-time we’ve hosted a pre-determined (site) NCAA Division III national championship in PAC territory, and that goes back to 1955,” PAC Commissioner Joe Onderko noted. “We’ve hosted (regional) NCAA events when one of our teams had the top seed, but as far as being determined in advance, this is a first.”
The announcement originally was made back in 2017 and was the culmination of 18 months of hard work throughout the bid process. That process began with a conversation between Onderko and then-Bethany Athletics Director Brian Rose.
“Brian at the time was on the men’s national committee and was involved in site selection,” Onderko recalled. “We had a lunch meeting and talked about the bid cycle for 2018-2022 seasons, and I said to him, ‘Given what you described the (NCAA) is looking for, is there any reason we couldn’t do this (at Oglebay)?’
“He knew in particular they were looking for two championship caliber courses in close proximity, along with a central location and an number of other things. He said he didn’t see any hurdles.”
Having the Palmer and Jones courses in such close proximity is huge. But so are the cottages and Wilson Lodge that will provide accommodations for the 30+plus teams of golfers and coaches come tournament week. Rooms available on-facility is another bonus.
Plethora of Experience
While this is the first collegiate national championship tournament Oglebay will host, it’s far from its first foray into championship golf tournaments.
The Park hosts OVAC and WVSSAC state high school championship events, and it has hosted Division II regional and conference championships for both the MEC and the former WVIAC, and There’s also the annual Kalkreuth Amateur Golf Tournament.
General Manager of Golf Operations Danny Ackerman is experienced in his own right, having helped host tournaments not only at Wheeling, but also in his previous stops at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club in North Carolina, along with Quail Hollow and Virtues Golf Club, both in Ohio.
“Oglebay has hosted different collegiate and high school events, plus the Kalkreuth Amateur,” Ackerman noted, admitting that the toughest challenge about staging this tournament will be COVID-based restrictions and accommodations.
All NCAA events have seen the field size reduced because of COVID. Ackerman noted that originally 42 teams were to compete at Oglebay as part of the championships. That number will likely fall between 30-32 teams. Still, that’s five players per team, plus a coach.
Spectators have yet to be determined, and Ackerman believes even if they are allowed, it will likely be family only.
“It hasn’t been determined yet whether to permit spectators,” Ackerman said. “With all the rules and regulations surrounding COVID I was on a call last week, and at that time it still had not been determined about spectators.”
For Oglebay’s part, it is the host and will assist the PAC in trying to get volunteers to help with the tournament. Ackerman is already talking to both the men’s and women’s golf clubs at Oglebay and will be putting out a call to some of the local high school teams.
But if anyone is interested in volunteering, the event will need help with spotting balls, transporting golfers on the Palmer course, assisting with scoring, and a number of other items.
Those interested can contact Ackerman at Oglebay or email Tayler Kirtley, the PAC’s point person for the championships at kirtley@pacathletics.org
The Setup
Teams will participate in practice rounds on May 9 and 10, with the tournament running from the 11th through the 14th.
The first two days, teams will be split into two groups, each shooting a round on either the Palmer or Jones course, then switching for the second round.
After 36 holes, there will be a cutoff, and the remaining teams and players will shoot their final two rounds on the Jones course.
“It was a group decision,” Onderko said of selecting the Jones course for the final two rounds. “We made our recommendation, and Oglebay felt the same way. The Jones has a more traditional layout and probably, while not necessarily better, it is laid out differently from the Palmer.
“We felt like the final two rounds, we could make changes with pin placements, the lanes, and things like that, making it a true challenging test.”
“The Palmer is not a golf course you can walk easily,” Ackerman added. “It requires people at positions to move the (golfers) around while the Jones finishes right back at the clubhouse.
“It’s a better championship golf course for the level of play.”
Onderko believes either course will provide a unique challenge for many of the golfers who qualify, most of whom likely aren’t used to the unique topography provided by both courses.
“If you look at some of the more traditional courses the championships have been held on, you have the more traditional layouts,” Onderko said. “This is such hilly terrain that it’s going to really be a unique challenge for some of the kids.
“Oglebay requires you to think your way around the golf course, especially for the younger players. As talented as they are, this will be a good test for them.”
Boost for Bethany
It’s also been a nice recruiting tool for Steve Thompson, both Bethany’s current athletics director and golf coach.
The Bison don’t receive an automatic bid by being the host, but touting playing on a course that hosts the D-III championships has been a boon.
“It’s a great recruiting tool,” Thompson admitted. “We’re the only (PAC school) with a championship at our home course, and it’s great from a recruiting and retention standpoint.
“The alumni are also excited about it, and I know one who is very interested in driving back, just to volunteer. It’s great for Bethany and the PAC on a much larger scale.”
Thompson noted it’s also helps strengthen the partnership between the resort and Bethany College.
