The Anthracite Golf Association, on the heels of a new merger with the Golf Association of Philadelphia, unveils its 2018 tournament schedule. More than 15 events for players of all ages and abilities occupy this year’s slate.
As a result of the new merger, GAP members are eligible to participate in Anthracite events, save for the Men’s and Senior Coal Scuttle championships. The Anthracite season begins with a 30-team Modified Stableford Tournament April 18 at Huntsville Golf Club and concludes with the AGA Challenge Cup, set for Oct. 28 at Elmhurst Country Club.
Lloyd notes a pair of significant changes within the Anthracite schedule in 2018. First, the Women’s Coal Scuttle Championship (Aug. 7 at Huntsville) will feature a modified Stableford scoring format. Second, the John Moore Memorial Tournament will move from three to two days.
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| The Coal Scuttle championships distinguish Anthracite. Similar to a college tournament format, the top four to five players of participating clubs compete for regional supremacy and a silver-plated pail trophy, symbolic of the area’s ties to the coal industry. The 2018 Coal Scuttle breakdown is as follows: Women’s (Aug. 7 at Huntsville), Senior (Aug. 20 at Country Club of Scranton), Super-Senior (Aug. 22 at Fox Hill Country Club) and Men’s (Sept. 29 at Emanon Country Club, Sept. 30 at Wyoming Valley Country Club). Now in its 68th year, the men’s championship is a two-day affair, with the low 10 teams and ties advancing to Day Two. |
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| In addition to the Coal Scuttle, the John Moore Memorial Tournament, Mid-Am/Senior Tournament and Stroke Play Championship represent Anthracite’s Majors. Now in its 35th year, the John Moore Memorial Tournament is a two-man four-ball event that features two divisions: Championship (May 19 at Pocono Farms Country Club, May 20 at Elkview Country Club) and Flights (May 19 at StoneHedge Golf Course, May 20 at Valley Country Club). A 20-team Senior Division competes at the Championship sites. The tournament’s namesake is an Anthracite founder and past president. As the titles suggest, the 20th Mid-Am/Senior Tournament (June 27 at Elmhurst Country Club) includes 50-60 teams of a middle-amateur (19 years of age or older) paired with a Senior (50 years of age or older). The 15th Stroke Play Championship, set for Aug. 15 at Fox Hill Country Club, is an 18-hole stroke play event. |
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| Anthracite honors its prominent figureheads and celebrates team spirit through annual four-ball events. These include the Ben Marshall Spring Four-Ball (April 30 at Wyoming Valley Country Club), Sam Spencer Four-Ball (July 5 at Glen Oak Country Club), Founders Four-Ball (Aug. 10 at Glenmaura National Golf Club), Montgomery Fall Four-Ball (Sept. 18 at Country Club of Scranton) and Robinson Fall Four-Ball (Oct. 9 at Lords Valley Country Club). |
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| As the Junior component of Anthracite’s tournament schedule, the Lawler Junior Tour Series includes two age brackets: 9-14 (Division I) and 15-18 (Division II). It begins on June 18 with a Division II event — rules clinic included — at Honesdale Golf Club. The top finishers in Division I are invited to compete in the tour’s Tournament of Champions, a two-day (July 30-31), two-site (Fox Hill, Huntsville) event. The Lawler Junior Tour, which began in earnest in 1983, is named after Fox Hill member Bill Lawler, a former Anthracite Executive Committee member who started the organization’s Junior golf initiative. |
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| An invitation-only event, the Challenge Cup rewards Anthracite’s top tournament players with a day of Ryder Cup style golf. A season-long Player of the Year points list, which includes Amateur and Senior categories, determines the field. In addition, Anthracite formally acknowledges its POY and Senior POY during the Challenge Cup. This year’s edition will take place Oct. 28 at Elmhurst. |
Golf Association of Philadelphia
Founded in 1897, the Golf Association of Philadelphia (GAP) is the oldest regional or state golf association in the United States. It serves as the principal ruling body of amateur golf in its region. The Association’s 200 Full Member Clubs and 70,000 individual members are spread across Eastern Pennsylvania and parts of New Jersey and Delaware. As Philadelphia’s Most Trusted Source of Golf Information, the Golf Association of Philadelphia’s mission is to promote, preserve and protect the game of golf.
