The Charles Schwab Cup Championship, featuring some of the most accomplished players in PGA Tour history, will be held October 31-November 4, 2012 on the Cochise course at the Desert Mountain Club in Scottsdale.

Fans of the game can expect to see Tom Lehman, Bernhard Langer, Jay Haas, Fred Couples, Michael Allen, John Cook, Fred Funk and Corey Pavin among the top 30 players in this season-ending event of the tour. Jay Don Blake was the 2011 tournament winner and Scottsdale’s own Tom Lehman, the 2011 season-long cup champion.

Now in its 12th season, the Charles Schwab Cup Championship recognizes the tour’s leading player and rewards both top finishes and week-in/week-out consistency in all official events. Players will vie for a $2.5 million purse with the season-long winner receiving a $1 million annuity.

“As the long-time host of The Tradition, a very successful event in the Valley, Desert Mountain was a natural choice to host the championship,” explained Ian Knight, executive director of the Charles Schwab Cup Championship. “Scottsdale is a great golf city and one we knew would embrace the event. Plus, north Scottsdale in the fall is a great place to celebrate the end of the tour season.”

Knight pointed out that the visually stunning Cochise course, on which The Tradition was played for 13 years, requires a player’s full game to be solid—driving, irons, short game and putting. “There’s nowhere to hide on Cochise.”

Cochise will be played as a 6,929-yard, par 70 course. Desert Mountain Director of Agronomy Shawn Emerson said the course set-up will be a cross between the U.S. Open and Augusta National with quick, firm greens and a Stimpmeter at 13-plus feet. The lush greens weaving through rugged desert make it one of the most picturesque of all the Nicklaus Signature designed courses. “It’s a very walkable golf course and extremely spectator-friendly,” he said, adding that hillsides surrounding the fairways will offer clear viewing that is close to the action. “The ninth and 18th holes are perfect amphitheaters to watch the exciting finish.”

While Emerson and his 60-person agronomy team will have spent a total of 10,000 man hours to condition and maintain the course to tournament standards, he pointed out that, “It’s an opportunity to push the course to its ultimate playing condition.” He added that the biggest challenge is, “Maintaining a lush, green look while at the same time providing firm and fast conditions.”

Desert Mountain Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Bob Jones pointed out that the Nicklaus Signature Cochise course was the site of some of the most remembered shots in the history of The Tradition. “Jack Nicklaus made his famous two double eagle on the 12th hole and Gary Player made a hole-in-one on the seventh hole and an eagle on the 15th. So he played the island green four under par.”

Jones explained that hosting a major event on the Champions Tour has special significance this year. “This fall marks our 25th anniversary and we successfully transitioned into a member-owned club less than two years ago. We introduced a $1.6 million state-of-the-art Golf Performance Center earlier this year and we’re moving forward with the expansion of our fitness facility. It’s a great time in our history.”

The Champions Tour estimates that the economic impact of the tournament to the Scottsdale-Phoenix area will be $10.2 million, primarily generated through hotel, transportation, dining, entertainment and retail purchases. “The Champions Tour will spend more than $4 million in the Valley on the event alone,” said Knight, adding that the tour expects 40,000-50,000 spectators during tournament week. In addition, the Golf Channel will broadcast 10 hours of live coverage to more than 85 million households around the world.

Gates open to the public starting October 31 for the official tournament pro-am from 8am-5pm. The tournament gets underway from 9am-5pm, November 1-4. Free, convenient parking with complimentary shuttle service is adjacent to the Cochise course. Desert Mountain is located just east of Pima Road on Cave Creek Road. Follow the directional signs along Pima and Cave Creek roads.

Tickets good for any one day are available for $20 and a weekly grounds ticket, valid October 31 - November 4, is available for $50. To purchase tickets, visit www.schwabcup.com or call 888.401.8000. Children 18 and younger are admitted free when accompanied by a ticketed adult.

Complimentary tickets are available for all active, retired and reserve military and their dependents. In addition, discounted tickets are available for military veterans and their dependents. For information and tickets, visit www.birdiesforthebrave.org.

Local charitable organizations can also benefit from the event through the TICKETS Fore CHARITY program, an innovative fundraising platform to improve the quality of life in communities where the PGA Tour and Champions Tour events are held. The program offers registered 501(c)(3) public charities an opportunity to raise funds by promoting ticket sales to the Charles Schwab Cup Championship at no cost to the organization. One hundred percent of proceeds from each ticket benefits the selling organization. For information, visit www.schwabcuptfc.com or contact Kristi Lee Fowlks at kristifowlks@pgatourhq.com.

Desert Mountain is a private, golf and recreational community with a reputation as a premier golf mecca on an international scale. Offering more award-winning Jack Nicklaus Signature golf courses than any other private community in the world, it also features six architecturally-themed clubhouses, a fitness center with world-class tennis complex, the technologically-advanced Golf Performance Center, a youth activity center and hiking trails, among many other amenities. For information, visit www.desertmountain.com.

Charles Schwab Cup Championship 2012 Schedule Of Events

Wednesday, Oct. 31 Official Tournament Pro-Am
8 a.m. Gates open to the public
9-11:20 a.m. Tee times (Co chise course, first and 10th tees)
5 p.m. Gates close

Thursday, Nov. 1 First Round, Championship Play
9 a.m. Gates open to the public
10 a.m. First round begins
1:30-4 p.m. The Golf Channel (Live)
5 p.m. Gates close

Friday, Nov. 2 Second Round, Championship Play
9 a.m. Gates open to the public
10 a.m. Second round begins
1:30-4 p.m. The Golf Channel (Live)
5 p.m.  Gates close

Saturday, Nov. 3 Third Round, Championship Play/Military Appreciation Day
9 a.m. Gates open to the public
9:45 a.m. Opening ceremony
10 a.m. Third round begins
1:30-4 p.m. The Golf Channel (Live)
5 p.m. Gates close

Sunday, Nov. 4 Fourth Round, Championship Play
9 a.m. Gates open
10 a.m. Final round begins
1:30-4 p.m. The Golf Channel (Live)
4:15 p.m. Charles Schwab Cup Championship ceremony/ Cup presentation
5 p.m. Gates close