Candler Hills Golf Club hosts the Ocala Open for the third year in March 2008.

In its first year this event was called the North Florida Winter Series Championship and hosted a field of 19 professional players.

During planning for the second year, the name “Ocala Open” was adopted. The field grew to 68 professionals. Numerous positive remarks were made by the players about the condition of the course, the staff and the overall On Top of the World/Ocala community. The event was covered by local media.

Planning is now underway for the 2008 event and Candler Hills Golf Club has a goal of transforming the Ocala Open into a nationally recognized Professional Golf Tournament. Toward this end, we are working to raise a prize purse for the professionals of $100,000. With a purse amount such as this, the Ocala Open has an opportunity to draw top quality players to Ocala. The tournament has been strategically scheduled to occur the week following the PODS Championship, held at Innisbrook Resort & Golf Club, Palm Harbor and during the week of the Bay Hill Invitational, held in Orlando. PGA players who are not participating in the Bay Hill event but who will be staying in Florida awaiting the next tournament would be available to participate in the Ocala Open.

The purse funds will be raised through sponsorship packages which are available to local, regional and national based businesses located right here in Ocala/Marion County.

In addition to providing a $100,000 purse, Candler Hills Golf Club will seek to raise $100,000 for the charities Go Red for Women and Interfaith Emergency Services.