The inaugural Landfall Tradition was held in 2002, but the idea of creating a major fall collegiate golf tournament in Wilmington, NC featuring 24 of the nation’s top teams began as a dream many months before. In the fall of 2001, Pete Hexter, a local entrepreneur and avid supporter of the golf programs at the University of North Carolina in Wilmington, had taken the idea to Jan Mann, then the UNCW women’s golf coach. Hexter’s concept was to hold a fall tournament on the Nicklaus and Dye courses at the Country Club of Landfall, invite the top college teams in the country, and have the proceeds benefit the golf programs at UNCW. He asked Jan and Grant Robbins, the men’s coach, for “Wish Lists” of teams they would like to invite, sold the idea to the Country Club of Landfall whose members eagerly embraced the concept, and started making phone calls. And, as they say, “The rest is history.” 

2007 will be the sixth annual Landfall Tradition, and what a tradition it has become. To date:

• 56 teams from 45 universities and 13 conferences have or will have participated.

• 12 men’s and 12 women’s teams have competed each year.

• nearly a third of the field has been ranked in the top 25 of the country.

• in the inaugural year, the men’s winners were the defending NCAA Champions, the University of Minnesota Gophers.  

• last year, half of the women’s field were ranked in the top 25 teams in the country at tournament time.

For many reasons the Tradition has developed a reputation as a great tournament played in a great location before avid supporters. As an example, except for travel, all tournament-related expenses for the participating teams are paid by the Tradition. This includes entry fees, all food and lodging (on beautiful Wrightsville Beach overlooking the ocean), and local transportation. Each arriving team is met at the airport and transported by limousine to its hotel where a team van is provided for their use during the tournament. Members of the hosting Country Club of Landfall not only volunteer in large numbers to support the Tradition, but also host the visiting teams in their homes Saturday night before the final day of play. Often, the hosts are alums of the visiting team. It’s also common to see team banners and flags along the fairways and in the yards of alumni homes.

Considerable support for the Tradition also comes from outside the Landfall community. Over 300 volunteers are needed each year. Local high school golf team members act as walking scorers. Businesses, local media, and the UNCW Seahawk Club are invaluable assets. Last year, a computer-assisted leader board scoring system was initiated to provide “up-to-the-minute” scoring.A sold-out College-Am event is held the day before the three-days of competition. It features competition among fivesomes made up of four local supporters and one college player. An awards dinner and auction that evening along with generous donations from sponsors provide the financial base to cover all expenses and generate revenue for the UNCW golf program.

Our goal each year is to make the next Tradition better than the one before it. That is so we will continue to hear the frequently heard comment from participating players that summarizes what the Landfall Tradition has meant to them. It is “This is the best tournament we play in. Everyone here makes us feel so welcome!”

The 2007 Landfall Tradition will be played October 26-28 on the Nicklaus Course at the Country Club of Landfall in Wilmington, North Carolina.  Please come and enjoy.