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Since 1954
when Jack and Fred Brand began the Fred Brand Foursomes in
memory of their father, Fred Brand, longtime professional at
Allegheny, partners were required to be from the same club. The
Brand has been played at two clubs, each for twenty years
plus—Allegheny and Longue Vue. Due to declining entries and
other factors the WPGA Championship Committee has established
the following conditions for entry in the 2009 version.
1. The field
will be limited to 48 teams
2. Teams with partners from the same club will be given first
priority.
3. Other teams may enter with partners from different clubs.
The committee reserves
the right to select these teams in an effort to develop the
strongest field.
4. All contestants must be affiliated with a WPGA Member Club as
of April 1.
“We realize
the Fred Brand Foursomes has much tradition, and one of them is
teams being from the same club. The most important traditions
are that the Brand is for players from Member Clubs and the
format is 36 holes of foursomes stroke play. These will
continue,” commented Executive Director Jeff Rivard. “Golf and
the WPGA have changed since the Brand began. We’re concerned
about teams where one partner leaves a given club, thus making a
veteran team ineligible. We don’t want that. Golfers are more
likely to change club affiliations in these times as well, so
the Championship Committee wants to make this popular event
available to those who want to play while retaining the format
and spirit of the competition.”
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