was perfect for scoring, and both
Skylinks and El Dorado were in pristine
shape. What most players commented
on was how true the greens were rolling
at El Dorado."
The Long Beach Golf Festival is a
series of seven events that culminates
every year with the Long Beach Open. It
is held throughout the summer across
the city's three courses – Skylinks, El
Dorado Park and Recreation Park 18.
Over the 12-week Festival,
2,980 rounds of competitive
golf were played.
"Keeping in mind that one
must carry a handicap in
order to compete, that's a lot
of first-rate competitive golf
played in a relatively condensed time
frame," Forbes said. "Believe me when I
tell you that there is absolutely nothing
like the Long Beach Golf Festival
anywhere else in the country.
"In a nutshell, what track and field is
to Eugene, Oregon, golf is to Long
Beach. And the Festival is ingrained in
local golfers from the time they take
their first swing until the time they can
no longer take any kind of swing. Golf
just 'is' for Long Beach area residents."
how do you feel about the state of
your game and your prospects for
the future? I've been fortunate
enough to basically have some type
of status since I decided to turn pro. I
started my career in South Africa on
the Sunshine Tour and when I
returned home I went to PGA Tour
Latino America Q-School and have
been competing out there ever since.
My game is in a great place and I've
been working hard on improving
every year. I knew when I turned pro I
had a lot of work to do to compete at
the highest level. My goal is the PGA
Tour. I'm making efforts every day to
do the right things in order for me to
make it out there.
what was the winner's check from
the $170,000 purse and how big of
a deal was that for you? Professional
golf is not cheap. The winner got
$31,000. It's a huge deal for me. It
allows me to pay for Q-School as well
play in other events on the Latin
America Tour. I would love to finance
my career until I make it to the PGA
Tour, but it's just not possible for me.
I'm always looking for a sponsor and
I've been fortunate to have had help
in the past. It's a constant battle
trying to get funds to give yourself a
shot at making it. The win couldn't
have happened at a better time and I
put a lot of preparation to give myself
the best chance at it.
what did you do well to win this
year? I had a solid game plan. I never
shied away from it. I was committed
to following my game plan no matter
what happened. And it turned out to
be the right one. Also, I stayed
extremely patient, which for me in
the past at this tournament has been
hard to do. When you're out there you
feel like you have to make a million
birdies. I took them as they came.
what does it mean to you to win
the tournament? I've walked by the
plaques at the golf course many
times. They have all the past winners
and I really wanted to see my name
up on the wall the next time I came to
the course. I felt like I was good
enough to win the event. It shows me
that I'm heading in the right direction.
anything else you'd like to add? I
just would like to thank The Long
Beach Golf Festival for putting on a
great event every year. And I would
like to thank my parents for
supporting me in my golf career. I
know it's not easy and they have
been there every step of the way.
LONG BEACH GOLF FESTIVAL
Q&a
bryan
martin
5 questions with the
Long Beach Open's
newest champion
learn more
about the
lonG beach
Golf festival
