About Us

Somewhere around 1999, three not so great golfers but really good friends, Brent Isenberger, Tom Rempp, and Jeff Swartz, over a few “malted beverages” after a round of golf decided, “Why don’t we make this an annual event”? And, so, The B.U.G. Tour was born. The acronym B.U.G. stands for Butt Ugly Golf since at that time all three struggled to score under 90.

One year later in 2000, four golfers initiated our first organized event held in Biloxi, MS. In 2001, six members traveled to Gulf Shores, AL. Family commitments, business schedules, and other stresses kept the group from meeting in 2002, 2003 and 2004. In 2005 a group of eight current and new BUG members traveled to Hot Springs, AR for golf and much needed camaraderie.

2006 had the group visiting Austin, TX. 2007 we were back in Gulf Shores, AL. 2008 had our group heading to Orlando, FL. It was during this stretch the members decided we needed a “tag line” for our group. From this discussion emerged, “A reason for friendship with a passion for golf”. This truly represents the meaning behind the BUG tour.

2009 found the BUG tour back in Gulf Shores, AL. 2010 we returned to Orlando, FL and 2011 we experienced “desert golf” for the first time in Scottsdale, AZ and in 2012 we were back in AZ with ten golfers, the most in history for our group. 2013 saw ten BUG members competing in St. Augustine, FL, with four of the ten new members. In 2014 we were back in the Phoenix, AZ area with 12 members, our largest group of competitors in history.

We were not able to meet in 2015 but in 2016 the BUG tour had its first “couples” event. It was held in Orlando, FL at the Reunion Golf Resort. No event was held in 2017 and in 2018 eight golfers attended the event in Dallas, TX. In 2019 the second “couples” event was held in Scottsdale, AZ. After not having a 2020 event, in 2021 another “couples” event was held in Gulf Shores, AL.

Though our good friend and founding member, Tom Rempp is no longer with us, I’m sure he would agree that neither he, Brent or myself ever imagined we’d have an annual event where good friends would get together because we love golf, love to laugh, and love to be around good friends.

To date, 31 golfers and 10 couples have attended the events over the past 24 years. All had a great time and walked away with a better understanding of our slogan, “A reason for friendship with a passion for golf”.

How many more years will this tradition keep going? No one can tell. . . but the 2025 Ozark’s event will take place in May and if it’s like any other past event, a 2026 event is not out of the question. Just a matter of where and when!

See ya on the 19th hole,

Jeff