Press Releases

Carmel, Calif. - March 22, 2005 - The Carmel TomatoFest® Celebrity Chef Golf Classic will offer culinary delights and captivating fun at Quail Lodge  in Carmel on Friday, September 9 beginning at 1 p.m., announced Gary Ibsen, founder and president of the Carmel TomatoFest®. "The setting is exquisite, featuring gorgeous fairways, beautiful lakes and first-class amenities," said Gary Ibsen. "Mercedes Benz of Monterey is a generous sponsor of the event and we are thrilled that Ben Alexander, Northern California PGA Teacher of the Year and instructor at the Golf Clinic Golf School, Pebble Beach, CA, will present a clinic at 12 noon prior to the shotgun start and scramble format," Ibsen added.

The recently completed $25 million renovation of Quail Lodge provides an unparalleled setting for this culinary sporting event. Players will be provided exceptional food from the area's finest restaurants, as well as wine throughout the day. Other exciting events scheduled during the day include a $5,000 putting contest, a fantastic "Hole-In-One" sponsored by Mercedes Benz of Monterey and a "TomatoBall" tournament.

The TomatoBall Tournament will be played during the normal 18 hole game. Each player will be given a red or orange tomato-colored golf ball with a number on it at the beginning of the tournament. They will play the whole tournament with that ball, and players that actually end up with their original numbered ball will go into a play off on the 9th hole. The winner of this playoff will be the TomatoFest® TomatoBall Tournament winner! It will be fun and adds another dimension to the tournament.

Quail Lodge is one of the finest golf courses in the area featuring challenging par threes and exceptional facilities. Some of America's best chefs will be competing against one another, along with other players to "Beat the Chef." Proceeds from this component of the tournament will be donated to the American Culinary Federation's Chef and Child Foundation.

An awards banquet will be held at the tournament's conclusion and will feature a live and silent auction, along with raffle prizes to lucky winners. Tickets for the entire day are $250 by May 20; after that date, tickets are $270. Tickets are also available for the awards banquet only for $75. For registration information or to secure your place, contact Caron De Seguirant at 831.625.6041

Gary Ibsen is an advocate of certified organic, sustainable farming and seed saving. He has grown heirloom tomatoes for more than 30 years and is currently growing more than 500 heirloom tomato varieties from seeds he has personally harvested. These seeds were originally sourced from family farms around the world. Tomato growers from Central California will also contribute to the selection of tomatoes showcased at the TomatoFest.