13th Lake Park Invitational

Known as "the 5th Major," the Lake Park Invitational has quickly become one of golf's most honored traditions. Okay, that's a tremendous lie. But it has become a time-honored tradition of those of us that congregate each year at Milwaukee County's easiest (and worst) course. 

The LPI embodies all that is great about the game (pitching wedges, beer and the scramble format), while leaving out the icky stuff (water hazards, sand traps and other golfers [if we're lucky]). And then there's the HoJo -- the coveted autographed baseball that signifies to the golfing community the dominant skills of its annual owner (or at least the lack of skills of those who fall short of taking it home).

As in recent years, all participants will be asked to contribute some cash -- this year $40 -- for the honor of accepting the invitation to play in this hallowed tournament. The fee will cover both rounds, snacks, domestic beer, a sleeve of golf balls, other miscelaneous items cobbled together by the semi-dysfunctional planning committee -- but most importantly, a donation to the Randol Thomas Wessel Memorial Foundation, honoring the short but meaningful life of LPI co-founder Matt Wessel's firstborn son and helping raise money to help rid the world of premature birth.

Join us on September 21 as we walk the storied fairways of Lake Park Golf Course and help us raise money for a great cause!

Here's the plan for the day:

PRE-GAME -- 12:00 PM (we're getting there early this year!)

• Arrive early for beer, NA drinks, snacks, laughs and to (maybe) practice your putting

MAIN EVENT ("Scramble Format") -- 2:00 PM

• Teams of 2 / Groups of 4
• Teams (and ideally groups) determined in advance
• Must use 3 drives and 3 putts from each team member on both the front 9 and back 9
• One hole will be designated the "putter only" hole

AWARDS -- About 4:45 PM  

• HoJo presentation + other meaningless trophies / prizes