2024 Play With Pete Invitational at The Olympic Club - How to Sign Up and All the Details

The Olympic Club in San Francisco, California is the oldest athletic club in the United States.  It's prestigious championship history includes five U.S. Opens, a U.S. Women's Open, three U.S. Amateurs, a U.S. Junior Amateur, and a Ryder Cup.  And the distinctive course architecture of the Lake Course encapsulates and showcases the Golden Age of early American golf.

Luminaries of the game have competed and won here including the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan, Tom Watson, Billy Casper, Arnold Palmer, Sam Snead, and Tiger Woods.  And on Thursday, June 27th, eight of you will become a part of The Olympic Club's storied 164 year history and leave your own footprints on this hallowed ground.

The moment you step foot on the Lake Course at The Olympic Club it becomes one with your soul.  You feel its noble history in your bones.  Breathe in the Pacific Ocean air and the spirits of legends who played here whisper stories of triumph, glory, and conquest.  This is the kind of course that sends you back in time with sloping, reverse-canted fairways, sloping target greens, and masterful bunkering.

 

The Lake Course is equal parts idyllic and demanding.  A perfectly manicured labyrinth maze built on a hill with pitfalls lurking at every corner and the most satisfying rewards if you maneuver around with skill and poise.

And when the Lake Course hosts the 2028 PGA Championship for the first time it will also hold the distinction of being one of only six courses in history to host the U.S. Open, PGA Championship, Ryder Cup, and U.S. Amateur.  The other five are Hazeltine, Oak Hill Country Club (East), Oakland Hills Country Club (North), Pinehurst Resort No. 2, and Scioto Country Club.

 

No 54-hole leader at the Lake Course has gone on to win the U.S. Open.  And in each championship Lake has treated human golf gods with merciless contempt.  Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson, and Payne Stewart were all 54-hole leaders.  All of them lost in a playoff or by one stroke.

In 1955 Ben Hogan walked off the 72nd green thinking he has won his record fifth U.S. Open.  NBC analyst Gene Sarazen (a two-time Open champion) went off the air declaring Hogan the winner.  Hogan even handed his ball to USGA Executive Director Joe Dey leaving the 18th green saying, "This is for The Golf House (the USGA Museum)."  But Jack Fleck (an obscure pro from Iowa) forced a playoff and won his lone major championship.  And Hogan never won a fifth U.S. Open.

 

Eleven years later in 1966 Arnold Palmer had a seven-stroke lead with nine holes to play in the fourth round.  Palmer went on to write in his autobiography Go For Broke, "I had already set the British Open scoring record several years earlier and was beguiled by the thought of holding both the U.S. and British Open records."  Not only would the record escape him, but Palmer would lose in a playoff to Billy Casper.  The King would never win another major championship.

Standing on the Lake Course first tee with a breathtaking view of this vast and dazzling property it may be difficult to imagine misfortune lies just ahead.  But when you play Lake beware when any shot is not precise.

 

The Lake Course has undergone multiple renovations and restorations since its establishment in 1924.  In 1927 storm damage brought about a Whiting redesign.  In 1955 Robert Trent Jones Sr. beefed up the course in preparation for the U.S. Open.  In 2009 the greens were changed from Poa to Bentgrass.  In 2016 Bill Love led the Lake Course bunker renovation.

And most recently with the Lake Course set to host the 2025 U.S. Amateur, 2028 PGA Championship, 2030 U.S. Women's Amateur, and 2033 Ryder Cup, The Olympic Club approved a Golf Facilities Enhancement Plan in 2021 that included a Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner renovation to Lake's original glory.

 

Hanse and Wagner used old aerial photos from the 1920s and 1930s to remove hundreds of old Cypress and Pines.  With history as a primary focus they widened the fairways by almost 25-percent.  Greens have been expanded by almost 33-percent.  And fairway bunkers have been re-introduced on one-third of the holes.  The result is a Lake Course that more closely resembles its past self with green complexes, slopes, shapes, sizes, and all surrounding areas authentic to original intent in stunning detail.

I'll have a full course review for you detailing the gloriously restored Lake after PWPITheOC.  Lots of big elevation change, wicked fairway movement and slope, and some nasty bunkering and green complexes.  Before and after photos will illustrate how shapes and positioning of critical course features once again make the Lake Course it's dynamic Mona Lisa self.

 

The inaugural Play with Pete Invitational was at Oakland Hills Country Club in 2018 and it's grown astronomically ever since.  So much so that we're looking at something like a PGAPappas Tour much sooner than later, with Play With Pete Invitationals multiple times a year from historic courses all around the country.

What is the Play With Pete Invitational all about?

Allow @xai Grok to explain. 💯🔥😁 pic.twitter.com/zAVR9eMNhB

— Pete Pappas (@PGAPappas) April 3, 2024

We've also played this event at Scioto Country Club, Pasatiempo Golf Club, Inverness Club, and the Kiawah Resort Ocean Course.  And interest keeps growing from courses, sponsors, partners, and of course the stars - you, to be a part of PWPI.

Play With Pete Invitational from Scioto CC was the stuff dreams are made of and altogether magical.

Scioto fam your hospitality was 💯 extraordinary, something all of us will cherish forever. You captivated, you took our breath away. It was a full day of Scioto wanderlust.… pic.twitter.com/ITNfpsQ5k3

— Pete Pappas (@PGAPappas) August 4, 2023

The last few years alone, I've received over 1,000 emails and DMs on X and Instagram to participate in each Play With Pete Invitational, and I'm especially excited about this year's edition from The Olympic Club on the Lake Course.  By any and every standard this defiant 1924 Willie Watson and Sam Whiting design on Skyline Boulevard is one of the world's greatest venues.

 

Play With Pete Invitational at The Olympic Club will take place on Wednesday, June 26th, 2024.  When the players arrive they'll meet and greet and I'll start handing out some of the swag they'll be receiving (more on that in a bit).

 

Your day will start with an early morning round of golf on The Olympic Club's Par-3 Cliffs Course.  With nine holes ranging from 63 to 183 yards and majestic views of bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Cliffs is thoughtfully designed, undeniably charming, and incredibly fun.

 

Following play on Cliffs you'll take a tour of the spectacular Lakeside Clubhouse (which could legitimately be called a museum).  It's absolutely fascinating and feel free to take photos and videos throughout.  I'll also be capturing pictures and videos of the eight players throughout the entire day.  When the tour is over you'll enjoy a late morning lunch in the Clubhouse and the main event on Lake will get underway early afternoon.

 

You'll also know what it's like to be a pro golfer for a day, because you're going to be sponsored by some of the biggest names in golf.  And you want to buckle up for this one.

🚨 Breaking News from the 2024 PGA Show 🚨

Play With Pete Invitational is coming to The Olympic Club this June! 💯🔥👀

We’ll have 8 players, and all of them will be fit for new Callaway Ai Smoke drivers to play on the storied Lake Course. Full details soon. #PWPITheOC 😁👍 pic.twitter.com/e3eGeGEnaS

— Pete Pappas (@PGAPappas) January 26, 2024

TravisMathew will be providing all the players with polos, outerwear, pants, and shoes..  You'll be able to choose any styles you want.  And I'll have your outfits waiting for you on arrival so you can play this historic course in perfect comfort and style.

Just a little Friday sneak peek at some of the Callaway Golf and TravisMathew gear for the players at the Play With Pete Invitational from The Olympic Club and viewers following along on livestream. 👀🔥💯 #PWPITheOC

And yes, we will have PGAPappas logo balls. 😁👍 #LogoUP pic.twitter.com/pQwkhWa7Fr

— Pete Pappas (@PGAPappas) April 19, 2024

Callaway Golf will be providing brand new, custom fit Paradym Ai-Smoke drivers and all the golf balls you need.  Yeah... I just said brand new custom fit Paradym Ai-Smoke drivers baby!  After players are selected I'll have them get fit near their homes for the Paradym Ai-Smoke driver that's best for their game.  And if you already have a Paradym Ai-Smoke driver?  We'll get you custom fit into a Paradym Ai-Smoke fairway wood or Odyssey Ai-ONE putter instead, whatever you want.  When you arrive at The Olympic Club I'll hand out your new custom fit clubs.   Stand on a tee box with an Ai-Smoke driver in your hands or an Ai-ONE putter on greens slippery as a banana peel and you breathe in courage and exhale fear.  Callaway is making sure you're ready to take on the Lake Course.

 

It's about armament and ammunition for Callaway so players will also get to choose from the new Chrome Tour, Chrome Tour X, or Chrome Soft balls, whatever model you play.  And this year the Callaway balls will once again have the PGAPappas logo as you loved these the last few times.  There might even be more Callaway and Odyssey swag for the players but I'm going to keep it a secret for now because honestly it's going to be wildly fun and I want to see the shocks on everyone's face live and in person.

#PWPIScioto Scioto CC Hole 1 https://t.co/gKS9Yx1iqg

— Pete Pappas (@PGAPappas) August 2, 2023

Like always I'm going to capture all the action not only for the players but also for everyone following along on Twitter and Instagram.  The entire #PWPITheOC event will be livestreamed on Twitter/X and I'll also have pics, videos, player interviews, jubilant triumphs, crushing defeats, and some incredible insight into Lake's championship personality throughout the day.

We'll even have chances for all of you following along to win prizes, as well as surprise contests for the players competing.  Callaway clubs and balls, Odyssey putters, TravisMathew polos, shoes, and more.  It's going to be an absolutely unforgettable day and insanely amazing experience for all.

 

After the round is finished, we'll all regroup back at the Lakeside Clubhouse to have dinner, drinks, share stories about the day and no doubt have memories and new friendships that will last a lifetime.

So how do you enter to join my Play with Pete Invitational at The Olympic Club?  Same as it's always been.  Just leave a comment here on my blog or on twitter or Instagram, or DM me, or email me and tell me why you want to be one of the eight players to join this event and play at The Olympic Club.  (NOTE: Because of the volume of entries coming in and wanting to read and reply to all of you, I'll only be able to accept entries through this Thursday April 25th).

 

Over the last five years I've read messages from people in every state in the U.S., even from other countries wanting to participate in the Play With Pete Invitational.  And again for this one, I welcome everyone from all over the world.  You'll have to make your own transportation to get here, but once you step on The Olympic Club grounds, it's all taken care of and just get ready for the time of your life.

 

It's that simple, I'll read every single comment, DM, and email, and I'll announce the eight players on Thursday, May 2nd.

 

The Lake Course is one of those iconic venues that truly raises the playing and spectating experience to something sublime, even fairy-tale.  A storied championship pedigree, an architectural masterpiece rich in challenge, tradition, and lore, and a history of the game's greatest players atop it all.  The Lake Course is a golfing paradise, and PWPITheOC is going to be one for the ages.