The Celebrity Golf Association (CGA) Tour will now have
the competition of a new rival group, the player-owned
Celebrity Players Tour Association (CPTA), according to Adam
Barr of GOLFWEEK. The CPTA, which debuted on February 6,
"promises" more events and the "most" prize money in
celebrity golf, up to $2.5M. CPTA Chair & Dolphin Dick
Anderson said that "as long as the CGA was increasing
tournaments and purses, everybody was happy." But he noted
that '95's CGA schedule decreased from seven to five events.
Former MLB pitcher Rick Rhoden: "Players like the idea of
owning their own league. Promoters and sponsors like
dealing with the players directly." CGA Tour founder Jim
Karvellas sees a celebrity golf future with "coexistence,
not conflict." Karvellas: "Still-active athletes can only
play in a few events each year, but the retired celebrities
have more time and want more chances." Karvellas did warn
that "too many celebrity events might saturate the market."
GOLFWEEK's Barr notes the CPTA is "going full steam ahead,"
with seven-events scheduled that "intersects" the CGA's for
the "showcase" Lake Tahoe Celebrity Championship. Other
stops: Ft. Lauderdale, FL; Del Mar, CA; San Juan, Puerto
Rico; Dallas; S.F.; and Houston. The CGA is also looking to
finalize TV deals with The Family Channel and New York's
WBIS+. It also plans to take the CGA global in '98, with
tournaments in Australia, Asia and Europe (GOLFWEEK, 2/8).
