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AJGA Simplify Boys Championship at Carlton Woods wins Hospitality Award

Tournament honored with 17th award in 15-year history
2023 Hospitality Award Carlton Woods.png

The AJGA Simplify Boys Championship at Carlton Woods was named the recipient of the 2022 Hospitality Award by the American Junior Golf Association.

Each year, the AJGA presents awards to the tournaments with the best individual hospitality, Junior-Am Fundraising Tournament, charitable giving and volunteer base. Awards are also given to the events with engaged media and social media participation. Finally, the AJGA recognizes the year’s most outstanding golf professional, superintendent and golf course executive, as well as the most game-changing event, best new event, best AJGA Preview Series tournament, best Ninja Junior All-Star Series tournament, best Invitational and overall tournament of the year. Tournament awards for the 2022 season will be presented on-site at the 2023 tournament.

Every year this tournament goes above and beyond to make the players and their families feel special,” said AJGA South Central Regional Director, James O’Brien. “The members at Carlton Woods and especially Christine Dernick and the committee are the best we have at putting together a tournament experience and we are excited to be honoring them with this award.
AJGA Regional Director, South Central, James O'Brien

The tournament earned the award by providing an incredible experience for the players both on and off the golf course. The tournament annually has incredible support from volunteers and members. Their support helps provide standard bearers, live scoring help and rovers throughout the golf course to make sure players have plenty of water. The tournament also provides multiple social activities to provide players an outlet off the golf course.

Activities at the 2022 event including an adidas 3-point Contest, TaylorMade Stealth Peeps Long Drive Competition and mini golf putting course. Each of these activities took place on Friday evening during the Welcome Party. On Saturday after the round, players took part in a par-3 competition that navigated the golf course in a unique layout. Following the competition there was a tournament dinner with featured speaker Chad Robichaux.

Following the tournament round on Sunday, the tournament hosted a Patriotic Ceremony that featured a vintage military flyover and performances of the National Anthem and America the Beautiful. The guest speaker for the ceremony was Tim Kennedy who is a former MMA fighter turned military veteran advocate. After the ceremony, one of the tournament's great traditions took place in the form of the Great Golf Ball Race.

In addition to the activities, players had access to the locker room and lounge area where video games and ping pong were set up. Players and their families were also served breakfast, lunch and dinner throughout the tournament. They also received a robust tee gift package that included a patriotic golf bag, and multiple adidas clothing items.

The tournament committee is led by Christine Dernick who is a long-time supporter of the AJGA. Her children played in AJGA events and through the years she has volunteered her time in various capacities with the AJGA. Each year she and the tournament committee strive to make the AJGA Simplify Boys Championship at Carlton Woods among the best tournaments in the country, from both a competition and hospitality standpoint.

Throughout the tournament, the committee puts unique touches on the event to make it as memorable as possible. Throughout each day hand-made milkshakes are served to players along with the always popular ice cream sundae bar. Each year, the entire club and members of the community come alongside the event to make it one of the most popular on the AJGA schedule.

The AJGA Simplify Boys Championship at Carlton Woods was played February 17-20, 2023.