The Thanksgiving leftovers are long gone, Holiday shopping is in full swing and there's no escaping hearing "Baby, It's Cold Outside" at least three times a day, which can only mean one thing: it's time for the Christmas Classic presented by Callaway Golf.

The Christmas Classic, which will be played over 36-holes beginning on Saturday at venerable Del Monte Golf Club in Monterey, traditionally kicks off AmateurGolf.com's six-event Winter Series which includes stops in the greater Bay Area and San Diego.

Founded in 1985 by two-time California State Amateur champion and legendary Northern California amateur Casey Boyns, many of the tournament's regulars still refer to the event as, "Casey's Christmas Classic," a title coined by Boyns' brother, Bucky, in the formative years of the event.

The early tournaments were opened to both professionals and amateurs and had a homey, intimate feel to them with side skins games, long driving and closest-to-the-pin contests. As the tournament grew in popularity, so did the challenges of managing it.

"The tournament was pretty low-key at first, and then it just took off by the third year," Boyns told the San Francisco Chronicle. "It got to the point where I'd have 30 to 40 extra people and I had to give them their money back. It got out of control."

Enter AmateurGolf.com, which took over the operation of the tournament in 2002 and grew it into the 104-player field it is today.

Last year, Joshua Lim prevailed over Weston Payne in a playoff to win the Championship Division, while Todd Barsotti narrowly defeated Boyns to capture the Senior Division.

Venerable Del Monte Golf Club provides a glorious backdrop

Compared to Pebble Beach, Cypress Point, Spyglass Hill, Poppy Hills and Spanish Bay, Del Monte Golf Club might not be the most well-known course on the Monterey Peninsula, but it has the distinction of being the oldest. A hidden gem, the 6,365, par-72 layout has proudly stood the test of time and continues to challenge professionals and amateurs alike.

Designed by Charles Maud in 1897, tradition-rich Del Monte Golf Course holds the distinction of being the oldest golf course in continuous operation west of the Mississippi River. The inland course has a classic feel with a tight layout, featuring well-guarded, tiny multi-tiered greens. The birthplace of the California State Amateur in 1912, Del Monte most recently was a host venue for the PURE Insurance Championship Impacting The First Tee and remains a host for the TaylorMade Pebble Beach Invitational.

AmateurGolf.com's Winter Classic future stops

Following the Christmas Classic, AmateurGolf.com's Winter Series will resume on Monday, Dec. 13 at the San Diego Amateur (North), which will be held at Aviara Golf Club and then move back to the Bay Area for the Winter Invitational, Dec. 18-19 at Corica Park (South Course) in Alameda.

The Winter Series will pick back up following the holidays at Baylands Golf Links in Palo Alto, site of the Silicon Valley Amateur, Jan. 8-9. It will be a quick turnaround to the San Diego Amateur (South) to be held at San Diego Country Club, Jan. 10-11.

The series will culminate on the Monterey Peninsula at the Pacific Grove City Championships, Feb. 19-20, at Pacific Grove Golf Links, also known as the "poor man's Pebble Beach."

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