Mission Inn readies for college & junior golf tournaments

Mission Inn Resort & Club’s two golf courses attract vacationers, corporate functions and golf tournaments, including two upcoming tourneys — 2010 NCAA Division III Women’s Golf Fall Preview and Montverde Academy Junior All-Star Invitational.

Mission Inn’s El Campeon is the third oldest golf course in the state. By featuring water on 13 of 18 holes and rare 85-foot elevation changes, the course ranks in the Top 10 in the state, according to Florida Golfing News. Along with the Las Colinas (The Hills) course, which is noted for its large, undulating fairways and greens, the two courses make for outstanding tournament play.

Below are two news releases about the upcoming golf tournaments at Mission Inn Resort & Club:

Top-notch women golfers to tee off at Mission Inn Resort & Club for Fall Preview

HOWEY-IN-THE-HILLS — In partnership with the Central Florida Sports Commission, Mission Inn Resort & Club will be welcoming back women’s golf teams from NCAA Division III on Sept. 26-27 for a fall preview.

Oglethorpe University of Atlanta is hosting the tournament at Mission Inn Resort & Club, located at 10400 County Road 48 in Howey-in-the-Hills. The public is encouraged to attend the 2010 NCAA Division III Women’s Golf Fall Preview, as admission is free.

In addition to Oglethorpe University, teams participating in the Fall Preview include Methodist University of Fayetteville, N.C., St. Mary’s College of Notre Dame, Ind., Allegheny College of Meadville, Pa., Piedmont College of Demorest, Ga., Birmingham Southern College of Birmingham, Ala., Berry College of Mount Berry, Ga., Wartburg College of Waverly, Iowa, Rhodes College of Memphis, Tenn., and Illinois Wesleyan University of Bloomington, Ill.

“These teams will be playing to get a preview of Mission Inn’s challenging golf courses, in advance of the Division III Women’s Golf National Championship scheduled for May 2011,” said Kristina Cullison, Director of Marketing & Public Relations at Mission Inn.

For the 14th consecutive year, Mission Inn will be hosting a NCAA golf championship with the 2011 NCAA Division III Women’s Golf Championships.

“The 14 consecutive NCAA golf championships that Lake County and the Mission Inn Resort & Club has hosted is truly a remarkable feat,” said Sam Stark, President of the Central Florida Sports Commission. “We are honored to be part of this tradition, and we know the golfers will have a great time getting a sneak peak at the course they will be crowning their champion on next May.”

For more information about the 2010 NCAA Division III Women’s Golf Championships, call Jon Baran, Lake County Marketing Manager at the Central Florida Sports Commission, at 407-648-4900 ext. 21, e-mail jbaran@centralfloridasports.org or log on to www.lakecountysports.org. For more information about Lake County vacations, call (800) 430-LAKE, log on to www.lakecountyfl.com or visit the Welcome Center, located at 20763 U.S. Highway 27 in Groveland.

Montverde Academy Junior All-Star Invitational to be Held Oct. 8-11
Mission Inn Resort & Club to host 78 top junior golfersBRASELTON, Ga. – The American Junior Golf Association is pleased to announce the Montverde Academy Junior All-Star Invitational will be held for a second consecutive year at Mission Inn Resort & Club Oct. 8-11, 2010. The tournament field boasts 78 junior golfers from across the country.

Conducted by the AJGA, the Montverde Academy Junior All-Star Invitational is the culmination of 10 events in the Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy Junior All-Star Series. Specifically designed for boys and girls ages 12-15, the Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy Junior All-Star Series presents opportunities for younger players to develop their skills and earn entry into AJGA Open tournaments. The Montverde Academy Junior All-Star Invitational is reserved for winners and top finishers in Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy Junior All-Star Series events.

In 2009, Alex Lloyd of Virginia Beach, Va., captured the championship in the Boys Division. He bested the field by two strokes en route to his first AJGA victory. In the Girls Division, Sierra Sims of Austin, Texas, led wire-to-wire and recorded a seven-shot win.

A practice round will be held Friday, October 8 with a 1:30 p.m. shotgun start. Tournament play will be Saturday, October 9 through Monday, October 11, with tee times running off the Nos. 1 and 10 tees from 8:30-10:18 a.m. each day. An awards ceremony will immediately follow final-round play. Admission is free of charge and guests are welcome to attend.

Founded in 1912, Montverde Academy is an independent college
preparatory school located in Montverde, Florida. The Academy prepares
junior golfers, student athletes and students from across the world with world-class academics and nationally-recognized athletic programs.

Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy, a full-time signature golf instruction program located in Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla., began as an Official Partner of the AJGA in 2009. The partnership features an endowment of an Achieving Competitive Excellence (ACE) Grant and the naming rights to the Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy Junior All-Star Series.

The American Junior Golf Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the overall growth and development of young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf. The AJGA provides valuable exposure for college golf scholarships, and has an annual junior membership (boys and girls ages 12-18) of approximately 5,000 junior golfers from 49 states and 30 countries. To ensure scholarship opportunities for all junior golfers who have the skill, the AJGA created the Achieving Competitive Excellence (ACE) Grant program to provide financial assistance to young players in need.

Titleist, the AJGA’s National Sponsor, has been the catalyst and driving force behind the Association’s success since 1989. Rolex Watch USA, which is in its third decade of AJGA support, became the inaugural AJGA Premier Partner in 2004. In 2007, after 12 years of support, Polo Ralph Lauren became the AJGA’s second Premier Partner.

AJGA alumni have risen to the top of amateur, collegiate and professional golf. Former AJGA juniors have compiled more than 400 victories on the PGA and LPGA Tours. AJGA alumni include Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Stewart Cink, Cristie Kerr, Paula Creamer and Morgan Pressel.

For more information, please contact Ashley O’Dell (aodell@ajga.org) in the AJGA Communications Department at (678) 425-1787 or visit the AJGA website at www.ajga.org.

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Prestigious golf course to receive facelift

The El Campeon course, or “The Champion,” at Mission Inn Resort & Club is one of the oldest and most challenging championship courses in the South. The resort recently announced a restoration project for the course.

Below is the news release from Mission Inn Resort & Club:

MISSION INN ANNOUNCES RESTORATION OF THE EL CAMPEON GOLF COURSE

HOWEY-IN-THE-HILLS, FL (July 2010) –  In keeping with The Nick Beucher Family’s commitment to superior quality in both products and services, Mission Inn will begin their ambitious ‘Restoration of A Classic’ project,  replacing all eighteen greens on their El Campeon golf course next month.

Led by Mission Inn’s Golf Superintendent, Paul Hickman, the team will be rolling out Bermuda ultradwarf grass throughout the month of August.  The installation of this grass will insure tighter, faster, more consistent play.  It is anticipated that these new greens will measure an impressive 10+ feet on the “Stimpmeter.” A golf course may typically take twelve weeks or longer to be ready for play using the most common method of sprigging, however, Mission Inn plans to open the golf course in time for the Labor Day holiday, barring any extraordinary weather conditions. “A lot goes into a project of this size and scope. Our team is ready and looking forward to getting the restoration underway,” said Paul.  “We’re inviting everyone to share in the experience and play the most challenging golf in Central Florida this Fall.”

The El Campeon golf course dates back to 1917, and has consistently been recognized as an award-winning championship course throughout it’s impressive 93-year history.  As recently as 2009, El Campeon won the distinguished National Golf Course Owners Association ‘Florida Golf Course of the Year’.  Since taking ownership in 1964, the Nick Beucher Family has remained committed to preserving the integrity of the course, originally designed by George O’Neill of Chicago.  “We are dedicated to maintaining the grandeur and signature design of El Campeon, while elevating the level of play,” says Bud Beucher, Mission Inn’s Vice President & General Manager. “It is a true Florida Treasure.”

The home of exciting NCAA events throughout the year such as the Women’s Division III National Championship and the Men’s Atlantic 10 Championship, the Mission Inn Resort & Club features two Championship Golf Courses, 190 graciously appointed accommodations, three restaurants, two lounges and a poolside bar. In addition to golf, recreational amenities include eight tennis courts, trap and skeet shooting range, jogging paths, nature trails, bicycling, volleyball courts, an outdoor pool and hydro-spa, fitness center and a nautical center, where guests can fish, powerboat and go eco-touring. The resort’s 6,200-square-foot Spa Marbella features an extensive array of exceptional services.

Mission Inn Resort & Club is a secluded 1,000-acre resort located just 35 minutes northwest of Orlando in beautiful Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida. For more information, visit www.missioninnresort.com or call 1-800-874-9053.

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On a ‘mission’ to find something for Father’s Day?

Mission Inn Resort & Club attracts vacationers, corporate functions and renowned golf tournaments. On June 20, dads will find the pleasant atmosphere and pristine nature surrounding the resort as a perfect place to celebrate their day. In addition to featuring two championship golf course, Mission Inn offers a decadent brunch for Father’s Day as well as special “back to basics” spa package for dads.

The Mount Dora Chamber of Commerce e-mailed this advertorial from Mission Inn Resort & Club this week:

- Father’s Day is June 20th! –

Father’s Day Grand Buffet
Sunday, June 20th 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
$34.99 per person, plus service charge and tax
Children’s pricing available

Special Golf Rate
Book a day on the golf course for Dad!
Now through August 31st $42.00, plus tax
Includes Green Fee & Shared Cart, 18 Holes
Tee times after 11am
Visit missioninnresort.com to book a tee time
or call the Tee Time Hotline at 352-324-3885 ext.22

Spa Marbella’s “Mission Inn-Possible”
Featuring the MAN-icure Essentials and Sportsman Pedicure,
Men’s Skin-Fit Facial and a 50-Minute Customized European Massage.
Call 352-324-2024 ext. 7721 to reserve!

The Play 90 Card
Buy 5 Rounds of Golf at the lowest price available!
Visit shop.missioninnresort.com!

Just 35 Minutes North of Orlando
Mission Inn Resort & Club
10400 County Road 48
Howey-in-the-Hills, FL 34737
352.324.3101 | www.missioninnresort.com

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Lake County Tourism congratulates Sports Commission for honoring local athletes

Lake County Tourism & Business Relations congratulates the Central Florida Sports Commission for organizing the Bright House Sports Network Breakfast of Champions to honor local high-school athletes on May 21 at Mission Inn Resort & Club in Howey-in-the-Hills.

“We are delighted to be a part of this event and to honor the outstanding talents of our local high-school athletes,” said Sam Stark, President of the Central Florida Sports Commission. “We appreciate Bright House Sports Network sponsoring the five-county program and look forward to making this an annual event for many years to come.”

Twenty-five athletes from the Lake County School District and from The Villages High School in Sumter County received special medals for being selected as the best male and female players in their respective sports. Local high-school athletic coaches and athletic directors, as well as Bill Buchalter from the Bright House Sports Network, made selections of the top athletes. Recipients of the award in Lake County include:

Austin Anderson, Mount Dora High baseball James Bell, Montverde Academy boys basketball Kim Smith, East Ridge High girls basketball Chad Spradin, Leesburg High boys bowling Vanessa Colburn, Umatilla High girls bowling Blaine Ramsdell, Mount Dora Bible boys cross country Ciarra Hopkins, Montverde Academy girls cross country Jordan Ozerites, Mount Dora High football offense Nick Waisome, South Lake High football defense David Brown, Eustis High boys golf Mallory Viera, Tavares High girls golf Neil Scwalb, Mount Dora High boys soccer Brooke Smith, Eustis High girls soccer

Kathy Novak, East Ridge High softball Justin Kaisrlik, East Ridge High boys swim & dive Lauren Grinnell, Village High girls swim & dive Dylan Berge, Mount Dora High boys tennis Katelin Mariner, Villages High girls tennis Bryan Kilts, Mount Dora Bible boys track Juline Nunn, South Lake High girls track Joanivette Negron, Tavares High girls volleyball Chris Kamp, Tavares High boys weightlifting Emily Cook, East Ridge High girls weightlifting Bruce Heggie, Mount Dora High boys scholar athlete Amber James, Umatilla High girls scholar athlete

For more information, call Jon Baran, Lake County Marketing Manager at the Central Florida Sports Commission, at 407-648-4900 ext. 21, e-mail jbaran@centralfloridasports.org or log on to www.lakecountysports.org. For more information about Lake County vacations, call (800) 430-LAKE, log on to www.lakecountyfl.com or visit the Welcome Center, located at 20763 U.S. Highway 27 in Groveland.

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Mission Inn continues unprecedented streak of hosting NCAA golf tourneys

For the 14^th consecutive year, Mission Inn Resort & Club, located at 10400 County Road 48 in Howey-in-the-Hills, will be hosting a NCAA golf championship with the 2010 NCAA Division III Women’s Golf Championships on May 11-14.

“Hosting 14 years of NCAA golf at any level, men’s and women’s, is an unprecedented streak throughout the country,” said  Sam Stark, President of the Central Florida Sports Commission.

Mission Inn Resort & Club is hosting the 2010 NCAA Division III Women’s Golf Championships on May 11-14

The championship features 20 teams (Methodist University, Gustavus Adolphus College, George Fox University, University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire, DePauw University, Williams College, Saint Mary’s College (Indiana), Illinois Wesleyan University, St. Lawrence University, Southwestern University in Texas, Olivet College, Otterbein College, Allegheny College, Centre College, Washington University in St. Louis, Whitworth University, Wartburg College, Franklin College, Schreiner University and Carroll University) and six individuals (Jessica Urban, University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, Kimberly Eaton, Wellesley College, Flora Weeks, Middlebury College, Kathryn Hauff, College of St. Benedict, Stephanie Mingos, Rhodes College, and Leslie Lee, LeTourneau University).

Eleven conferences have been granted automatic qualification and the remaining nine teams were selected on an at-large basis from conferences and the remaining independent institutions. Six individuals, not from selected teams, also were selected for the championships. The championships consist of both team and individual competition conducted concurrently. The tournament consists of 72 holes of play over four days of competition. In the team competition, the low four scores from each team for each day will count in the team’s total score. The public is encouraged to attend the 2010 NCAA Division III Women’s Golf Championships, as admission is free.

“I congratulate and welcome the teams and individuals selected for the 2010 NCAA Division III Women’s Golf Championships,” said Greg Mihalic, Director of Lake County Tourism & Business Relations.

For more information about the 2010 NCAA Division III Women’s Golf Championships, call Jon Baran, Lake County Marketing Manager at the Central Florida Sports Commission, at 407-648-4900 ext. 21, e-mail jbaran@centralfloridasports.org or log on to www.lakecountysports.org. For more information about Lake County vacations, call (800) 430-LAKE, log on to www.lakecountyfl.com or visit the Welcome Center, located at 20763 U.S. Highway 27 in Groveland.

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Lake County prepares for its second collegiate golf championship this week

Only three days after Conference USA named its golf champion (University of Central Florida) at a Lake County golf course, the community is welcoming the men’s golf teams from the Atlantic 10 Conference for the 32^nd Annual Golf Championship on April 30-May 2 at the Mission Inn Resort & Club, located at 10400 County Road 48 in Howey-in-the-Hills.

“Hosting two major collegiate golf tournaments in a week raises the visibility of Lake County as a Central Florida vacation destination,” said Greg Mihalic, Director of Lake County Tourism & Business Relations. “In addition, these championship tournaments bring tremendous support to local jobs in the tourism, hospitality and service industries.”

Mission Inn Resort & Club is hosting the 2010 Atlantic 10 Men's Golf Championship.

According to the Atlantic-10 Conference  Web site (www.atlantic10.com), The [Charlotte] 49ers are vying to become the first A-10 program to win five consecutive golf titles since Penn State won five straight crowns from 1986-91. Leading the way for Charlotte is 2009 individual champion and three-time All-American Corey Nagy, who was recently named to the 2010 U.S. Palmer Cup Team.”

Other schools from the Conference include University of Dayton, Duquesne University, Fordham University, George Washington University, La Salle University, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, University of Rhode Island, University of Richmond, St. Bonaventure University, Saint Joseph’s University, Saint Louis University, Temple University and Xavier University.

The three-day tournament includes 18 holes of competition on Friday, Saturday and Monday with the first tee times scheduled for 8 a.m. The public is encouraged to attend the 2010 Atlantic 10 Men’s Golf Championship, as admission is free.

“We are excited to help bring the Atlantic-10 Conference championship to Lake County,” said Sam Stark, President of the Central Florida Sports Commission. “Hosting two collegiate championships in one week says a lot about the quality of golf courses in Lake County.”

For more information about the 2010 Atlantic 10 Men’s Golf Championship, call Jon Baran, Lake County Marketing Manager at the Central Florida Sports Commission, at 407-648-4900 ext. 21, e-mail jbaran@centralfloridasports.org or log on to www.lakecountysports.org. For more information about Lake County vacations, call (800) 430-LAKE, log on to www.lakecountyfl.com or visit the Welcome Center, located at 20763 U.S. Highway 27 in Groveland.

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Conference USA men’s golf teams to converge in Lake County for championship

Lake County Tourism & Business Relations and the Central Florida Sports Commission will be welcoming the men’s golf teams from Conference USA for the 2010 Men’s Golf Championship on April 25-27 at the RedTail Golf Club, located at 26026 Member Lane in Sorrento.

“An event like the Conference USA Men’s Golf Championship is significant in terms of the visibility it brings to our community and the tremendous direct and indirect economic impact it generates for Lake County,” said Greg Mihalic, Director of Lake County Tourism & Business Relations.

The defending C-USA Champion, the University of Central Florida, is hosting the tournament. Other schools from the Conference include East Carolina University, University of Houston, Marshall University, University of Memphis, Rice University, Southern Methodist University, University of Southern Mississippi, Tulane University, University of Tulsa, University of Alabama at Birmingham and University of Texas at El Paso.

“We are thrilled to bring the Conference USA championship to Lake County,” said Sam Stark, President of the Central Florida Sports Commission. “It gives Lake County another opportunity to show what a great place it is for collegiate sporting events.”

The three-day tournament includes 18 holes of competition on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday with the first tee times scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Playing partners for the first day will be determined by a blind draw. For every succeeding round, team scores will determine pairings.

The winner gains the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Championship. The top individual finisher at the championship will be the individual champion and the top five finishers will be the All-Tournament team. The first and second place teams will receive trophies and the first place team will receive individual awards.

The public is encouraged to attend the C-USA Championship, as admission is free. For more information about the 2010 C-USA Men’s Golf Championship, call Jon Baran, Lake County Marketing Manager at the Central Florida Sports Commission, at 407-648-4900 ext. 21, e-mail jbaran@orlandosports.org or log on to www.lakecountysports.org. For more information about Lake County vacations, call (800) 430-LAKE, log on to www.lakecountyfl.com or visit the Welcome Center, located at 20763 U.S. Highway 27 in Groveland.

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RubeLab’s Green Fair & RubeRally is this weekend

Eustis-based RubeLab, a center for environmental innovation, is hosting a race of alternative powered vehicles on Saturday and a Green Fair on Saturday and Sunday.

RubeLab is an incubator of sorts, a center for environmental innovation, like the solar-powered charging station for electric vehicles.

The news release from the Trout Lake Nature Center is below:

RubeLab™ Green Fair & RubeRally 2010

SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.    SUNDAY, MARCH 21, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Ferran Park, Historic Downtown Eustis

 This free event showcases the relationship between technology and nature. RubeLab is partnering with Trout Lake Nature Center to bring together manufacturers and innovators of alternative means of transportation along with supporting green technology and environmental exhibits. There will be lots of activities for the entire family. Talk to the owners of today’s latest ideas in cars and visit with endangered animals from Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens or create a craft with the Trout Lake volunteers. Find out what technologies are available in today’s market and enjoy interactive displays used to help students learn about their environment.

On Saturday, at 2, watch the start of the RubeRally as they set off on a drive along scenic streets to Mount Dora, Tavares and back to Eustis. Open to any street legal vehicle using alternative energy. Electric, natural gas, solar, hydrogen, plug in hybrids, bicycles, etc. The rally will not be determined by speed but, rather, by correct answers to a quiz. The course is approximately 15 miles. Also new this year will be the awards ceremony and Dinner by the Lake on Saturday. For those who do not qualify for the RubeRally, we invite you to take part in the Once Around the Park “Showtime”. Open to all ages, the more creative the better.

 Information: www.rubelab.org or 352.357.7926

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Lake County welcomes another crop of collegiate golfers

Lake County Tourism & Business Relations is proud to join with the Central Florida Sports Commission and Mission Inn Resort & Club to welcome another round of exciting collegiate golf play as the St. John’s Spring Fling kicks off Friday.

“Collegiate teams from across the country are teeing it up on the El Campeón Course,” said Sam Stark, President of the Central Florida Sports Commission. “St. John’s, Lake County and the Sports Commission annually host a men’s fall tournament at Mission Inn. This is the first year of the spring tournament.”

The tournament at Mission Inn, located at 10400 County Road 48 in Howey-in-the-Hills, features nine men’s teams (Appalachian State University, University of Connecticut, University of Detroit Mercy, Johnson & Wales University, Florida Golf Coast University, Morehead State University, St. John’s University, St. Leo University, Stetson University and University of Tampa) and three women’s teams (Butler University, Eastern Illinois University and Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis).

“The St. John’s Spring Fling showcases Lake County as a destination location for sports and outdoor activities,” said Greg Mihalic, Director of Lake County Tourism & Business Relations. “It’s another great addition to the County’s cluster of sporting events and tournaments.”

For more information about St. John’s Spring Fling, call Jon Baran at (407) 648-4900, ext. 21 or e-mail jbaran@centralfloridasports.org. For more information about Mission Inn Resort & Club, call (800) 874-9053 or log on to www.missioninnresort.com. For more information about Lake County vacations, call (800) 430-LAKE, log on to www.lakecountyfl.com or visit the Welcome Center, located at 20763 U.S. Highway 27 in Groveland.

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