ABOUT

The McCracken 22 Putting Challenge was created in 2025 by Dave McCracken (pictured right).  Dave played collegiate golf at San Diego State University and professionally in 1980-1981.  Dave's passion for creating unique golf formats began in 1989 when he created the format for the "Skills Challenge" that was aired on NBC for 20 years. Dave has created numerous other golf formats that were used in 5 made for television shows that featured PGA TOUR professionals and celebrities.  

Raising money for worthy causes has been at the core of each of Dave's golf ventures.  Each of these formats provided a unique, fun, and challenging event for men and women amateur golfers of every skill level.  These formats also created opportunities for PGA of America Club Professionals to generate revenue and play for cash prizes in their own professional championships. 

While recovering from Prostate Cancer surgery in July 2025, Dave could not swing a golf club and was restricted to putting only. After one year and over 500 matches played against some great putters, Dave had the idea to create the McCracken 22 Putting format.  He created the  standardized rules and the custom scorecard that is used to keep score in each 2-player match. The McCracken 22 Putting format is US Patent Pending. 

On May 31, 2026, The inaugural 2026 McCracken 22 Putting Challenge was contested at Diablo Creek GC in Concord, CA.  Shortly after that event, the Northern California Section of the PGA of America agreed to partner with the event which will raise charitable funds for the PGA HOPE Program that benefits veterans.