The tournament provides five flights for golfers of all abilities. “ I plan for the metro all year long. I play in the same flight with the same guys each year and one of these days I am going to win it.” Said Willow Lakes Golfer Hector Campos who also plays in the Willow Lakes flights. The flights have been named after the courses that have held the event over the past 10 years, Platteview, Bent Tree and Willow Lakes.

The Metro has crowned some great champions including, Jay Muller, Patrick Duffy, Ed (Moose) Person, Pete Godwin, Trent Morrison, David Yarnes, Al Dusek and Dave Shillinglaw.

But if you ask tournament chairman Dave Shillinglaw that’s not what makes him most proud. “ I’ve got to know most of the guys over the past 10 years, many do not play in tournaments other than the METRO, and they treat this like a major championship. Last year one of the guys in the last flight finally broke a 100 for the first time in 8 years. It is truly a championship for everyone”

Many casual golfers do not play the ball down (as it lies) or putt everything out. The METRO is tournament golf with tournament rules. It is common to see Nebraska Golf Association rules officials on the golf course to monitor play and keep it moving. “We try to make the Metro as much like a professional tournament as possible. Some players have never experienced that and it’s just another amenity to makevthe METRO better for all players” said Shillinglaw.

The Championship Pool looks as strong as ever with defending Champion, Jay Muller, and past champions,Patrick Duffy Person, Godwin, Dusek and Shillinglaw in the field. Also in the field are Past Nebraska Mid Amateur Champion Rick Dusek, current Omaha World Herald Public Links Champion Craig Bakke, former OWH Champion Jerry Lampe, and top five finishers from 2005 including Platteview Country Clubs Ken Albrecht, Champions Runs Brett Monson, plus former club champions like Kirby Smith, Rob Mullen, Nick Vondrak and Doug Matheson.

The METRO has truly become the “City Championship” because it involves golfers from both the private and public sectors. For anyone keeping track it’s public players 4 wins and private clubs 5.

Spectators are welcome and play begins at 7:00 AM on both days.

A survey was given to all players after the 2003 event, which identified: The TOP 10 Reasons why the METRO is Special.

10) Flights are named after the golf courses the event has been played at: Platteview, Willow Lakes and Bent Tree and handicaps for players range from 0-20.
9) Players with handicaps from 0-25 play in the METRO and everyone is flighted ahead of time except the Championship/METRO flight
8) Lunch and range balls are provided both days as apart of the players entry fee.
7) Player’s names are announced on the first tee box both days.
6) The banners and signage on the course make’s players feel like there at a big time event.
5) A history of the scores dating back to 1998, plus daily scores and pairings can be found at the tournament website www.metrochamp.com
4) This year’s participant gift provided by Golf USA owner Tom Tvrdik.
3) Spotters and Rules officials on course
2) Get your entry in early, or you’ll get put on the waiting list.
1) Only players from the Metro Area and Council Bluffs are eligible to play. Everybody else is out!

According to Melvin Mungin from Willow Lakes it’s not all about winning.“The Metro is the best organized most fun event around. I play in two-three tournaments all year long and I put the METRO on my calendar as soon as the dates come out. It gives me a chance to compete against guys in my own handicap range and maybe remove a few dollars from some good friends’ Does it get any better than that?”

For more information on the METRO go to www.metrochamp.com, or call 598-7445.
See you at Council Bluffs Country Club August 18-19.