The Office Depot Father-Son Challenge

The Office Depot Father-Son Challenge celebrates its 10th anniversary this weekend at ChampionsGate in Orlando, Fla as another event in the crowded Silly Season looking for attention. Yet, this tournament stands apart through the work of Alistair Johnston of IMG, one of the largest sports marketing firms. He set out to create a tournament that had serious competition with serious prize money. As it turns out, getting players to participate would be a no-brainer.

“This event will never be pressed to get a field,” said David Charles, son of 1963 Open Champion Bob Charles. “It’s such a unique event they could have 50 teams out there.”

It was Johnston’s decision to institute the qualification of being a major championship winner playing with his son. It’s also his decision to change the rules for whenever he sees fit. This year’s entry of Lee Janzen playing alongside Aaron Stewart, the son of the late Payne Stewart, is a prime example. Also among Johnston’s noted exceptions is letting Arnold Palmer, who has two daughters, play with his grandson.

“Next year it might be neat to have a father-daughter play,” Johnston said. “We’re trying to do something fun. I’m not going to be (uptight) about the qualifications procedure. But this is an event I feel passionately about, and I’ll keep a hands-on interest in this thing.”

The attractiveness of this event has done more than just bring out the best, it has changed schedules. This year, the PGA Grand Slam of Golf, a tournament with the most exclusive field, restricted to the four major champions, had to change its dates (from Dec. 3-4 to Nov. 23-24) because PGA champion Vijay Singh had other plans – he was not going to miss out on the Father-Son Challenge. “The biggest thrill I’ve ever had in my whole career,” Singh said after playing last year with 14-year-old Qass.

Johnston believes the Father-Son Challenge does as much to encourage children to play as any program that golf’s administrators can dream up at an annual conference.

“This event should be right out there with a marketing campaign to bring kids into golf,” he said. “Because nothing brings kids into golf more than seeing the great names bring their kids into the game.”

Only the fathers are paid from $1 million purse. The winners get the Willie Park trophy, named after the first Open Championship winner whose son, Willie Park Jr., went on to win two Open titles.

“This is an opportunity for fathers to get their sons involved in what they do,” said David Charles, who plays from the right side and routinely launches 300-yard drives. “It’s taken seriously. We all want to beat each other. It would be great for me say I competed against Vijay Singh, the No. 1 player in the world. That’s pretty special.

“But it means a lot to the fathers just to have their sons there.”