Plane-ly, a good idea

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By Craig DeVrieze | Sunday, July 13, 2008 |

For years, the John Deere Classic’s message to British Open-bound contestants was simple: You can get there from here.

That plaintive plea didn’t persuade many of those players to warm up for the Old Course and other such Old Country destinations by tackling the TPC Deere Run.

This year, the JDC tried a new pitch to players destined for the game’s oldest championship.

It is a “plane-tive’’ plea that goes: We can get you there.

The results say the introduction of a JDC-supplied charter straight to Manchester, England, is a grand idea.

A total of 21 JDC entrants and another 65-some guests are scheduled to wing their from Moline to Manchester via a 100-seat, luxury charter hours past the conclusion of next Sunday’s final Deere Run round. That player total is nearly triple the eight players who played in both events a year ago, and the latter is a total that included Jonathan Byrd, who qualified only by winning the 2007 Q-C affair.

Players consistently have applauded the opportunity to fly direct to England on a 767 charter with all-first-class seating, a plane that is used in season by the Dallas Mavericks basketball team.

All passengers fly for a bargain donation of $1,000.

It’s a deal that got better as gas prices increased this summer.

“It has become even more attractive with airlines reducing the number of planes in the air, airfares going up, congestion at airports going up, delays becoming more prevalent, lost luggage becoming more prevalent,’’ said JDC tournament director Clair Peterson. “All these things are becoming more of a challenge if you fly commercially.’’

No such problems on “Air Clair.’’

Straight shot

Zach Johnson, the Cedar Rapids-bred 2007 Masters champion, said he recommended the tournament find a way to help British-bound players when he joined the JDC executive board two years ago.

He said Peterson and the board one-upped him.

“You know, I anticipated chartering some normal plane, but they go out and get the Dallas Mavericks’ plane,’’ he said. “It is going to be nice.

“It will just be much easier, rather than having to drive to Chicago O’Hare, probably (for) two-and-a-half hours, given no traffic, and then typically have (to make) a connection somewhere to get to the Open. This is a straight shot.’’

Straight-shooter Woody Austin left little doubt the plane is an essential reason he is playing the JDC in advance of his first trip to the British Open since 1996.

“People say, ‘Why do you play before the British?’’’ he said. “I could fly first class and still have two stops or this, that and the other. Whereas I fly from the John Deere direct. How easy is that? How good is it going to get? It’s a great deal. A great deal.’’

Last year, a number of players, Johnson included, dealt with lost luggage and golf clubs on the ground in England. Most of those didn’t even play in the JDC.

“One guy, Pat Perez, didn’t have his clubs for his first round of the British Open,’’ remembered defending JDC champ Byrd. “He had to put a set together. A couple of guys didn’t get theirs until Wednesday night.’’

Boosting the field

J.B. Holmes made his way to the 2006 British Open after finishing tied for 39th at the JDC. He said the charter was a key factor in his decision to return to the Q-C this year.

“Absolutely that was a factor,’’ he said. “I think that was good for the strength of their field. There are some people who like to go over there early. (The plane) gives them a reason to stay.’’

That was always the idea, said Peterson, who said the plane has done more to strengthen the field than putting another $325,000, the estimated cost of the charter, onto the $4.2 million purse might have.

“You could put $1 million on the purse and potentially not do what this is doing,’’ said Peterson, who also will make the flight with two JDC board members. “I think it is the biggest change in our event since we moved to Deere Run.’’

The JDC is one of three events offering charter jet service. Last year, the Travelers Championship flew players from the U.S. Open near Pittsburgh to nearby Hartford, Conn., and it did the same this year from San Diego.

Also last year, the Canadian Open flew players from the British Open to its tournament near Toronto.

International partners

This year, the Royal Canadian Golf Association has teamed with the JDC to provide a back-and-forth experience. The RCGA will use the same charter going back to the Canadian Open as the JDC uses heading to England.

As part of the partnership, the Canadian tournament is arranging ground transportation to take players from Manchester to Merseyside, England, where the British Open will be played upon arrival Monday morning.

As a result of the partnership, the logos of both tournaments will be displayed on the jet, and flight attendents will wear aprons with both tourneys’ logos as well.

Several players — including Holmes, Sean O’Hair and Mark Calcavecchia — are expected to take advantage of both charter opportunities.

Johnson is confident more and more players will be joining the outbound flight to Britian in years to come.

“This is the first year, so this is a testing ground,’’ he said. “Once the word gets out that, ‘Wow, this plane was great!’ I think it can only improve from year to year.’’

Look, boss, the plane

Facts on the JDC charter to the British Open:

The plane: It’s a 100-seat, all-first-class 767 charter jet used by the Dallas Mavericks during the National Basketball Association season.

Cost to Classic: Roughly $325,000, depending on fuel costs, taken from the tourney’s operating budget.

Cost to players: Players are asked to donate $1,000 per passenger to help fund the Birdies for Charity Bonus Bucks program. Each player is allowed two passengers, although some will take more, some less.

Accomodations: Passengers will receive gifts, two meals and, yes, there is a full-service bar.

Flight details: The plane will leave Moline at 8 p.m. and touch down in Manchester, England, at approximately 8:30 a.m.

Participating players: Woody Austin, Aaron Baddeley, Rich Beem, Bart Bryant, Mark Calcavecchia, Alex Cejka, Tim Clark, David Duval, Lucas Glover, Todd Hamilton, J.B. Holmes, Zach Johnson, Matt Kuchar, Doug LaBelle II, Tom Lehman, Michael Letzing, Scott McCarron, Sean O’Hair, Jeff Overton, Tim Petrovic, highest JDC finisher not otherwise qualified for British.

Craig DeVrieze can be contacted at (563) 333-2610 or cdevrieze@qctimes.com. Comment on this story at qctimes.com.