New date and format for Mongrel Masters XVI

Chairman Noni Scanlon has announced that Mongrel Masters XVI will be played on Friday 21st October 2005. He also outlined a radical departure from the traditional early morning tee times to a more social late afternoon tee off of 3.30pm which he hopes will encourage players to attend the ensuing Champions Ball which will also be held at a restaurant.

The transcript of  the Press conference where he released the news is written below.

Q. Why has the date for the 2005 Mongrel Masters been changed to Friday 21st October?

SCANLON: The Committee believed that Friday 21st October was the best date to ensure that the strongest field would be available to play at Mongrel Masters XVI. 

Q. What indications were there to the Committee that the field would not be as strong if the previous date remained?

SCANLON: The 2004 Champion informed us that he could not defend his title due to personal commitments.

Q. Isn't the defending Champion you?

SCANLON: Yes

Q. Why the later tee time of 3.30pm for the first group?

SCANLON: We are not getting any younger and those early mornings were preventing some players from teeing it up as they just could not get themselves out of bed. As I said before we want as strong a field as possible to play.  Additionally player attendance to the Champions Dinner had dropped off due to the long break between when the tournament had ended and the time the dinner commenced.

Q. You also announced that the Champions Dinner will be held at a restaurant? Why this break from tradition?

SCANLON: Well we spoke to our members and they indicated that there was an image problem with the Champions Dinner. Their partners believed that it was nothing but a "boys night" and that it had all the stigmas that come attached with such a label.

This could be nothing further from the truth. The Champions dinner is not only about honoring our current and previous tournament champions but thanking those dear to us. So to reposition the dinner at its rightful place as a prestigious event in our social calendars we thought it best to take it to a nice restaurant.

Q. Will you also dispense of the tradition that most players dread of drinking warm beer?

SCANLON: No not a chance. As in previous tournaments the ensuing years supply of Tooheys Gold was purchased at least twelve months in advance and I can assure you it will be at the right temperature and have that ghastly taste that we have loved to hate come Friday 21st October.