About The RG Tour

Harbor Town Golf Links, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, hole number 1. Gary Baker steps to the tee-box and blasts a 290 yard drive right down the middle. James Surber next to the tee box and not to be out-done by Gary Baker crushes a drive 10 yards past Mr. Baker. As they walk off the tee box, they realized they just nailed two perfect, PGA-level drives, on a PGA Tour event course. Only to come to the realization that no one was around, no one cared, it did not mean anything to them other than maybe this was a start to a great round. The reason why no one was around and no one cared was that Gary Baker and James Surber are just two friends playing recreational golf. The entire first hole, they talked about what it would be like playing in a Tour event, the crowds, the pressure, the feeling of hitting that pure drive right down central, sinking a 10 footer for the lead and winning the championship, oh the sweet taste of victory.

Fast forward 5 years and after many recreational matches among friends, an idea comes to mind, "let's create a mini season-long tournament for golfers in our local area." This tournament was the "Donatelli's Open." The Donatelli's Open was extremely well received by recreational golfers in the St. Charles area. The golfers who participated in the Donatelli's Open expressed the desire for a season-long tournament having a tour-like feel, which would allow recreational golfers - of all skill levels - to compete for a reasonable purse. After much consideration, Mr. Baker and Mr. Surber finally said, "This is it. This is what is needed, a venue for recreational golfers to play in Tour-like circumstances." And therefore the Recreational Golf Tour (RG Tour) launched its inaugural season, March 1st, 2010.

The format of the Donatelli's Open was similar to the format of the RG Tour.  The RG Tour has been designed based on the feedback that we received from you, the recreational golfer, and has been designed to appeal to golfers of all skill levels.

The RG Tour was officially co-founded in the winter of 2009 by Gary Baker and James Surber.  In the Spring of 2010, Jon Strautz was brought aboard as chief executive officer, with several years experience in the golf industry, he brings a lot to the progression of the RG Tour!  We hope that you enjoy competing in the RG Tour. As we grow, and expand the geographical reach of our leagues, we want to make sure that we continuously improve and cater to wants-and-desires of our recreational golfers. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any comments or suggestions for the RG Tour - which, after all, is YOUR golf Tour.  Welcome to the RG Tour!

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