Colorado WRX 2018

[irvtrain]

So tossing out a new subject.....

 

In the last few years I have set a goal to try and "knock off" a number of new courses. I adjust it based on what I know and what I have for family aspects each year. My goal is 8-10 min... BUT would love to do 20 a year... finding that can be pretty expensive as after living here for 20+ year I have found I need to travel if you have been in the same area for a long time.

 

Does anyone else have a goal like that? Or given all the great local courses are you content with what is around here?

 

Edit: Dont get me wrong we do have some great local tracks..!

 

I try to get to as many courses and States as I can. I only go if the plane, car rental, and hotel is really cheap, but I've gotten to 22 new courses this year and hoping to end with around 40. I figure if I look at monthly dues for a private club and apply to that amount to traveling, I'm coming out way ahead.

 

Funny enough, almost all of my rounds are either tournaments or when traveling this year. I haven't played too many rounds this year in Colorado, maybe 15ish for the year.

[CDM]

So tossing out a new subject.....

 

In the last few years I have set a goal to try and "knock off" a number of new courses. I adjust it based on what I know and what I have for family aspects each year. My goal is 8-10 min... BUT would love to do 20 a year... finding that can be pretty expensive as after living here for 20+ year I have found I need to travel if you have been in the same area for a long time.

 

Does anyone else have a goal like that? Or given all the great local courses are you content with what is around here?

 

Edit: Dont get me wrong we do have some great local tracks..!

 

I try to get to as many courses and States as I can. I only go if the plane, car rental, and hotel is really cheap, but I've gotten to 22 new courses this year and hoping to end with around 40. I figure if I look at monthly dues for a private club and apply to that amount to traveling, I'm coming out way ahead.

 

Funny enough, almost all of my rounds are either tournaments or when traveling this year. I haven't played too many rounds this year in Colorado, maybe 15ish for the year.

 

Same criteria.. I use points for flights most the time (southwest). I rented a F150 in Pinehurst as it was half the price of a full size car but actaully worked out even better. Room pretty much the same, unless the wife / kid are with me. Good courses are expensive enough....

[pseudoswede]

Leaving for GVR in a few minutes. We desperately need the rain, so, if you're playing today, hopefully it starts the minute after you walk off 18.

[seven dewey]

Leaving for GVR in a few minutes. We desperately need the rain, so, if you're playing today, hopefully it starts the minute after you walk off 18.

 

I sure hope you play better there than I did. It was unbearably hot yesterday and after a decent front I started +5 on #10-#12 on the back. Made a few more pars before a complete meltdown on 18.. That was the most balls I’ve ever lost on a single hole, real life Tin Cup moment. I had to take off 7 strokes for my ESC score. The pace of play was really bad from 14-18

 

Looks like you are going to have a much cooler day today, play well!

[brianhorne8]

Leaving for GVR in a few minutes. We desperately need the rain, so, if you're playing today, hopefully it starts the minute after you walk off 18.

 

Jacob and I are **supposed to be** off at 3:01 at the Knolls. Loving the weather, but I'm not optimistic we'll even get 9 in.

[jacobEDGE]

Another fun Friday evening out at Family Sports with everyone!

 

Saturday morning I had my tournament at Highland Meadows. After some time on the range, I made the decision to put my newly purchased 2 UDI in the bag, replacing my 3 Hybrid. Friday evening I hit 2/2 fairways with it. 239 and 252 yards. Was hitting it fine on the range Saturday morning. But man, a 2 iron is still a 2 iron. Took it off the tee 5 times, but only hit 2 fairways. And my distances were 204, 206, 233, 238, and 240 yards. So, needless to say, I still need to practice a bit with that club.

 

Ended up starting my day by laying up on the Par 5 opening hole, pitching up and giving myself an 8 foot birdie chance, that just skimmed over the lip. Then I had a 3-putt bogey on #2, and made a huge mess of #3, with an eventual double-bogey. Got a little in my head, and felt like completely giving up already. Threw my ball into the tall weeds, and switched balls on #4 tee. Took a few deep breaths, and ended up going -1 the remaining 6 holes on the front 9 to shoot a 38 going out. Had a 5 foot birdie putt that I missed on #12, then did the unthinkable, and missed a 1 foot tap-in putt. Beautiful drive in the narrow part of the fairway. Chunked my approach from 120 yards and missed the green by a few feet. Bladed my chip shot from the fringe, and had a 12 foot putt for par. I was frustrated at the missed green and bad chip, so I didn't even read the putt. Missed low side, and just quickly walked up to tap in my bogey-putt. Didn't stand over the ball, just leaned over with one leg, and without thinking tapped it...and it somehow missed. I was stunned. Definitely reminded me that no matter how big or small the putt, take your time and don't rush things. Ended up going birdie-bogey-bogey to close out the final 3 holes and carded a 77 (+6). A +6 with two double bogeys and 35 putts.

 

I ended up being tied first 1st with that score, which was such a brutal kick in the groin...because that should have been a 76 with that stupid tap in. However, the other guy with a 77 was in the first group, and by the time everyone came in, he had left the course. So the sudden death playoff turned into a scorecard playoff, with me having 1 stroke better on the back 9. So I took 1st place even with the stupid error.

 

 

Sorry for the long post! Just a bit excited.

[pseudoswede]

The rain started pouring about three hours into the round. The pro drove the course to pull people off. Before that, it was windy--like 3-club windy. Crazy stuff. Our tournament got called after 10 holes--but not before I snagged another CTP (and made the birdie putt). :)

[brianhorne8]

The rain started pouring about three hours into the round. The pro drove the course to pull people off. Before that, it was windy--like 3-club windy. Crazy stuff. Our tournament got called after 10 holes--but not before I snagged another CTP (and made the birdie putt). :)

 

Woof. We didn't even bother going out to Riverdale. The wind was nearly enough to convince me (and the rain fully did), so I went and had wings at Fire on the Mountain with my wife and kid instead. Great decision. Glad you got to sneak a few holes in!

[irvtrain]

The rain started pouring about three hours into the round. The pro drove the course to pull people off. Before that, it was windy--like 3-club windy. Crazy stuff. Our tournament got called after 10 holes--but not before I snagged another CTP (and made the birdie putt). :)

 

Woof. We didn't even bother going out to Riverdale. The wind was nearly enough to convince me (and the rain fully did), so I went and had wings at Fire on the Mountain with my wife and kid instead. Great decision. Glad you got to sneak a few holes in!

 

That sucks about the rain. Odd the pro kicked people off. Unless there is lightening, I've seen people willing to keep playing in monsoons. Makes sense for the tournament to stop though.

 

Love Fire on the Mountain. Their Lime Cilantro sauce is my favorite there.

[pseudoswede]

That sucks about the rain. Odd the pro kicked people off. Unless there is lightening, I've seen people willing to keep playing in monsoons. Makes sense for the tournament to stop though.

 

Yes, quite the rarity to get so much rain without a single bolt of lightning. Many of the greens were pooling pretty bad. We speculate the pro was a bit skittish of having people driving around in carts and potentially destroying the fairways right before the Colorado Open.

[Joelness]

So this past weekend, I think I reached my capacity for golf. I already posted about playing 36 on Friday. Played 9 on Saturday. Was scheduled to play 18 on Sunday... but ended up playing 36 that day too. Sunday was my sister-in-law's bridal shower. So my soon to be brother-in-law and a cousin of my wife had planned to play late in the afternoon. Saturday night my wife mentioned that they were going to be up and gone earlier than I thought, so I booked a morning tee time for myself. So 81 holes in 3 days... Not a bad way to spend a weekend.

 

Couple thoughts after playing a bunch out here...

 

- Golf here is freaking cheap. The most expensive round I played was 8am Sunday morning and was full price $68 for 18 and cart at one of the nicest daily fee course in town. It would easily be $100+ out in CO for a weekend round. The cheapest was 20 to play 18 twilight.

 

- That said... we're really lucky in CO to have such nice public courses. Of the 4 18 hole rounds I played here in MI, I'd call one excellent, one good, one mediocre, and one pretty crummy. Maybe I just have rose colored nostalgia of places I used to play growing up, and reality doesn't match my memory... or maybe it's just because I can afford to play nicer courses now than I used to... I dunno; but even though there are tons of courses here in MI, there's quite a few that really would be better used as something else. There's some phenomenal private courses around with some serious history (Oakland Hills- 6 US Open's, 2 US Am's, 3 PGA, 2004 Ryder Cup; Meadowbrook- 1955 PGA), but I don't have the right kind of friends to get on those places... LOL.

 

- Courses here have way too many trees.

 

- People here are weird about pairing up. My Friday afternoon round, was an off the cuff decision. I ate lunch and then just drove by a course I used to play when growing up around 1pm or so. I checked in with the starter and told him to pair me with whoever. There was a twosome going off in like 10 minutes, but they "didn't want to play with anyone". Ok. Joined another twosome a couple of tee times later. They only played 9, so when I made the turn the foursome in front of us let me go through. I quickly hit the "don't want to play with anyone" twosome on the 11th tee box. They were a older couple, and waiting for the fairway to clear and didn't even look my way. I waited for the fairway to clear and teed off. When I got to my ball the green was clear and they were no where to be found. So I hit my approach and headed up to the green. When I got there, I noticed two balls short of the green and the twosome drove back from the next tee to putt out. I apologized, that I didn't see them. They said the drove away so I'd play up and let me play through. Ok... so that was nice of them. By the 12th green I caught the next twosome in front of me. I waited for them to clear, and finished the hole. I pulled around for the next tee box, but hung back. These guys were a twosome about late 30's or so. They were waiting for the fairway to clear on the threesome ahead of them. One guy came over and we chatted for a sec, and I asked if they wanted to pair up since they were waiting, and that way I wouldn't be breathing down their necks. They told me no, they didn't want to pair up, but insisted that I play through. Ok... that's nice, but now I'm waiting behind a threesome and these two guys waited on me for every shot the last 5 holes. It was just a really weird afternoon.

 

- Holy f*$#, humidity sucks. Sunday morning I played around 8am. It was low 70's when teeing off and got up to the mid 80's by the time I finished. At 8am there was still a lot of water on the course from the morning watering. I swear, you could feel the water evaporating around you and just saturating the air as the sun came out.

 

I had a lot of fun this weekend, and may try to play one more time out here on Friday before coming home to CO on Saturday... but I can't wait to get back to the arid CO climate, great public tracks, and my regular bag.

 

Oh man. I can totally relate to three of your points.

 

My brother and I had the first tee time at Grand National last Tuesday. We were told by the starter to wait until exactly 7:00 to tee off, so we hung by the booth until he let us roll. We come down the hill and there's a twosome already parked by the tee box. I knew we were a foursome to start the day and had no issue with that, so I asked the guys if they were also at 7. They just kind of stared, slid out of the way, and pointed to the tee box for us to go ahead. Not a word was said. So we teed off and then waited for them to go and they stood there and waved us on to play our next shots. I never got the full story, but explained it to the marshal on the 18th green (we played 18 in about 2:30...amazing) and he asked who the guys were. Apparently the best I can tell is they're semi-regulars and all the marshal said was "be glad you didn't play with them."

 

On Friday I went over to the course I grew up playing to get a quick walking 9 in while the baby napped (Greg, it was about 12:30 and hotter than the surface of the sun, plus humidity). Really casual place, no tee times needed. The first time I played there after about a decade of not, I called to book a time and they laughed at me. So knowing this, I pulled up, walked in and paid, and walked to the tee box. A threesome pulled up right before I walked out of the shop, so I figured I'd play with them since it was only 9 holes. I asked and they politely refused. There was a foursome finishing their second shots, but these guys were adamant about me walking alone...so I didn't bother fighting it. Ended up catching the foursome on the second hole and they mercifully let me play through. Walked 9 in the sweltering heat, was +3 on bumpy, sandy greens, and was back home before the baby even woke up from her nap. Gotta love a course that's only a half mile from home.

 

But yeah, I don't get these non-group type players. Had it happen here once or twice at Murphy too.

 

Also, golf in the south is absurdly cheap as well. That local course is like $500 for a yearly unrestricted membership. Grand National, where they play PGA Tour events, is $85 for unlimited summer play WITH lunch included. And annual memberships are dirt cheap, if I recall.

 

And way too many trees.

 

This same group-joining mentality was on display in Germany. The big difference though was people were going out of their way to let you play through.

 

So tossing out a new subject.....

 

In the last few years I have set a goal to try and "knock off" a number of new courses. I adjust it based on what I know and what I have for family aspects each year. My goal is 8-10 min... BUT would love to do 20 a year... finding that can be pretty expensive as after living here for 20+ year I have found I need to travel if you have been in the same area for a long time.

 

Does anyone else have a goal like that? Or given all the great local courses are you content with what is around here?

 

Edit: Dont get me wrong we do have some great local tracks..!

 

Not a goal, necessarily, but my Google maps is littered with marked "want to go" courses. I always try to locate 2-3 courses when we go on vacation, since golf's typically a good part of my vacation experience. We're currently debating between England/Scotland/Wales, Spain, or Germany for a vacation after the games in November in England. I'm so impartial to where we go on the vacation front, but the golfer in me really wants to play some courses in the cold and probably wet in England/Scotland.

 

I think it's definitely worth it to play in new places. Sometimes it's radically different.

 

Brian, don't do Germany golf. I can't speak for Spain and I haven't played a round in England/Scotland yet. However, I've seen my fair share of courses around Scotland on our Tours the last 5 days and they look AWESOME. I've also noticed that it's much more golf-friendly here then it was in Germany or Austria. I found 3 courses in Vienna, which is a HUGE city. In Germany where we were you had to travel to find a course for the most part. People's attitudes were much different about it also. The sport is not nearly as popular there and my (admittedly rich) friend we met in Vienna still called it a "rich man's game."

 

However, the culture in Scotland when it comes to golf is MUCH cooler. Nearly everyone plays and there are a ton of courses even in the most remote areas of the highlands. Because of that golf is much cheaper. Plus, you're where golf was born, who doesn't want to play there?!?!?!?

 

P.S. If you go to the Scottish Highlands you have to play the course in the link. We only got to see it but holy s*** it's awesome!!!

https://goo.gl/maps/H1RQFZvJ9SE2

[irvtrain]

 

Same criteria.. I use points for flights most the time (southwest). I rented a F150 in Pinehurst as it was half the price of a full size car but actaully worked out even better. Room pretty much the same, unless the wife / kid are with me. Good courses are expensive enough....

 

Yes that is the thing to balance when traveling. One expensive one or two depending how expensive and then some good bang for the buck!

 

 

 

Yes, quite the rarity to get so much rain without a single bolt of lightning. Many of the greens were pooling pretty bad. We speculate the pro was a bit skittish of having people driving around in carts and potentially destroying the fairways right before the Colorado Open.

 

I forgot about the Colorado Open. That makes a lot of sense now.

[brianhorne8]

So this past weekend, I think I reached my capacity for golf. I already posted about playing 36 on Friday. Played 9 on Saturday. Was scheduled to play 18 on Sunday... but ended up playing 36 that day too. Sunday was my sister-in-law's bridal shower. So my soon to be brother-in-law and a cousin of my wife had planned to play late in the afternoon. Saturday night my wife mentioned that they were going to be up and gone earlier than I thought, so I booked a morning tee time for myself. So 81 holes in 3 days... Not a bad way to spend a weekend.

 

Couple thoughts after playing a bunch out here...

 

- Golf here is freaking cheap. The most expensive round I played was 8am Sunday morning and was full price $68 for 18 and cart at one of the nicest daily fee course in town. It would easily be $100+ out in CO for a weekend round. The cheapest was 20 to play 18 twilight.

 

- That said... we're really lucky in CO to have such nice public courses. Of the 4 18 hole rounds I played here in MI, I'd call one excellent, one good, one mediocre, and one pretty crummy. Maybe I just have rose colored nostalgia of places I used to play growing up, and reality doesn't match my memory... or maybe it's just because I can afford to play nicer courses now than I used to... I dunno; but even though there are tons of courses here in MI, there's quite a few that really would be better used as something else. There's some phenomenal private courses around with some serious history (Oakland Hills- 6 US Open's, 2 US Am's, 3 PGA, 2004 Ryder Cup; Meadowbrook- 1955 PGA), but I don't have the right kind of friends to get on those places... LOL.

 

- Courses here have way too many trees.

 

- People here are weird about pairing up. My Friday afternoon round, was an off the cuff decision. I ate lunch and then just drove by a course I used to play when growing up around 1pm or so. I checked in with the starter and told him to pair me with whoever. There was a twosome going off in like 10 minutes, but they "didn't want to play with anyone". Ok. Joined another twosome a couple of tee times later. They only played 9, so when I made the turn the foursome in front of us let me go through. I quickly hit the "don't want to play with anyone" twosome on the 11th tee box. They were a older couple, and waiting for the fairway to clear and didn't even look my way. I waited for the fairway to clear and teed off. When I got to my ball the green was clear and they were no where to be found. So I hit my approach and headed up to the green. When I got there, I noticed two balls short of the green and the twosome drove back from the next tee to putt out. I apologized, that I didn't see them. They said the drove away so I'd play up and let me play through. Ok... so that was nice of them. By the 12th green I caught the next twosome in front of me. I waited for them to clear, and finished the hole. I pulled around for the next tee box, but hung back. These guys were a twosome about late 30's or so. They were waiting for the fairway to clear on the threesome ahead of them. One guy came over and we chatted for a sec, and I asked if they wanted to pair up since they were waiting, and that way I wouldn't be breathing down their necks. They told me no, they didn't want to pair up, but insisted that I play through. Ok... that's nice, but now I'm waiting behind a threesome and these two guys waited on me for every shot the last 5 holes. It was just a really weird afternoon.

 

- Holy f*$#, humidity sucks. Sunday morning I played around 8am. It was low 70's when teeing off and got up to the mid 80's by the time I finished. At 8am there was still a lot of water on the course from the morning watering. I swear, you could feel the water evaporating around you and just saturating the air as the sun came out.

 

I had a lot of fun this weekend, and may try to play one more time out here on Friday before coming home to CO on Saturday... but I can't wait to get back to the arid CO climate, great public tracks, and my regular bag.

 

Oh man. I can totally relate to three of your points.

 

My brother and I had the first tee time at Grand National last Tuesday. We were told by the starter to wait until exactly 7:00 to tee off, so we hung by the booth until he let us roll. We come down the hill and there's a twosome already parked by the tee box. I knew we were a foursome to start the day and had no issue with that, so I asked the guys if they were also at 7. They just kind of stared, slid out of the way, and pointed to the tee box for us to go ahead. Not a word was said. So we teed off and then waited for them to go and they stood there and waved us on to play our next shots. I never got the full story, but explained it to the marshal on the 18th green (we played 18 in about 2:30...amazing) and he asked who the guys were. Apparently the best I can tell is they're semi-regulars and all the marshal said was "be glad you didn't play with them."

 

On Friday I went over to the course I grew up playing to get a quick walking 9 in while the baby napped (Greg, it was about 12:30 and hotter than the surface of the sun, plus humidity). Really casual place, no tee times needed. The first time I played there after about a decade of not, I called to book a time and they laughed at me. So knowing this, I pulled up, walked in and paid, and walked to the tee box. A threesome pulled up right before I walked out of the shop, so I figured I'd play with them since it was only 9 holes. I asked and they politely refused. There was a foursome finishing their second shots, but these guys were adamant about me walking alone...so I didn't bother fighting it. Ended up catching the foursome on the second hole and they mercifully let me play through. Walked 9 in the sweltering heat, was +3 on bumpy, sandy greens, and was back home before the baby even woke up from her nap. Gotta love a course that's only a half mile from home.

 

But yeah, I don't get these non-group type players. Had it happen here once or twice at Murphy too.

 

Also, golf in the south is absurdly cheap as well. That local course is like $500 for a yearly unrestricted membership. Grand National, where they play PGA Tour events, is $85 for unlimited summer play WITH lunch included. And annual memberships are dirt cheap, if I recall.

 

And way too many trees.

 

This same group-joining mentality was on display in Germany. The big difference though was people were going out of their way to let you play through.

 

So tossing out a new subject.....

 

In the last few years I have set a goal to try and "knock off" a number of new courses. I adjust it based on what I know and what I have for family aspects each year. My goal is 8-10 min... BUT would love to do 20 a year... finding that can be pretty expensive as after living here for 20+ year I have found I need to travel if you have been in the same area for a long time.

 

Does anyone else have a goal like that? Or given all the great local courses are you content with what is around here?

 

Edit: Dont get me wrong we do have some great local tracks..!

 

Not a goal, necessarily, but my Google maps is littered with marked "want to go" courses. I always try to locate 2-3 courses when we go on vacation, since golf's typically a good part of my vacation experience. We're currently debating between England/Scotland/Wales, Spain, or Germany for a vacation after the games in November in England. I'm so impartial to where we go on the vacation front, but the golfer in me really wants to play some courses in the cold and probably wet in England/Scotland.

 

I think it's definitely worth it to play in new places. Sometimes it's radically different.

 

Brian, don't do Germany golf. I can't speak for Spain and I haven't played a round in England/Scotland yet. However, I've seen my fair share of courses around Scotland on our Tours the last 5 days and they look AWESOME. I've also noticed that it's much more golf-friendly here then it was in Germany or Austria. I found 3 courses in Vienna, which is a HUGE city. In Germany where we were you had to travel to find a course for the most part. People's attitudes were much different about it also. The sport is not nearly as popular there and my (admittedly rich) friend we met in Vienna still called it a "rich man's game."

 

However, the culture in Scotland when it comes to golf is MUCH cooler. Nearly everyone plays and there are a ton of courses even in the most remote areas of the highlands. Because of that golf is much cheaper. Plus, you're where golf was born, who doesn't want to play there?!?!?!?

 

P.S. If you go to the Scottish Highlands you have to play the course in the link. We only got to see it but holy s*** it's awesome!!!

https://goo.gl/maps/H1RQFZvJ9SE2

 

Thanks, Joel. Added to my map.

 

I got the same vibe about golf in France. I looked a lot when Mollie and I went over to see if I could sneak a round in around Paris, but outside of Le Golf National, there just didn't seem to be a lot of great options. I was surprised, considering proximity to the British Isles and how rich with courses they are.

 

After a pretty big discussion, it seems like we're going to do England/Scotland/Wales. I was going to fly my wife and kid in on miles via United, but the fees alone for the baby are crazy. Their ONE WAY ticket price (which a baby has to pay 10% of the full, unrestricted fare) is over $3k, which meant in economy, Louise was going to cost us nearly $350 to fly. Then you factor in business class and her fees went up to like $600. My wife could fly on 70k miles and about $50, but the baby just totally messes with pricing. Not worth it, especially when you consider that you can fly Norwegian to Gatwick for $150 per person! So I'm going to book them two seats round trip, and it'll only cost about $500 total. Nice when USSF foots the bill to and from for me!

 

Anyone have any experience playing, or attempting to play, St. Andrews? I've already got the green light if we go that route. I've heard that it's easiest to book a package and have them handle getting you on, rather than doing the lottery thing. I watch a lot of Crossfield videos and Rory's company, YourGolfTravel, seems like it'll be the best bet for getting out there. $400 gets you a night in a B&B near St. Andrews, a round at the Old Course, and a round at another course in the area. Not too bad! But if you have experience even looking into playing there, let me know. I'll consider all options. If I can check St. Andrews off the list....oh man.

 

Spain's still in the mix, especially since we could hop a ferry to Morocco and do a few days over there as well. Seems like it'd be a great experience, even without golf.

[pseudoswede]

104.3 The Fan is hosting a 2-man scramble on Monday at Colorado Golf Club. $225/person. Details on their website.

 

I'm so very tempted.

[LooperCon]

104.3 The Fan is hosting a 2-man scramble on Monday at Colorado Golf Club. $225/person. Details on their website.

 

I'm so very tempted.

 

Just saw this as well....probably too short of notice for me to make it happen though :(

[Joelness]

Thanks, Joel. Added to my map.

 

I got the same vibe about golf in France. I looked a lot when Mollie and I went over to see if I could sneak a round in around Paris, but outside of Le Golf National, there just didn't seem to be a lot of great options. I was surprised, considering proximity to the British Isles and how rich with courses they are.

 

After a pretty big discussion, it seems like we're going to do England/Scotland/Wales. I was going to fly my wife and kid in on miles via United, but the fees alone for the baby are crazy. Their ONE WAY ticket price (which a baby has to pay 10% of the full, unrestricted fare) is over $3k, which meant in economy, Louise was going to cost us nearly $350 to fly. Then you factor in business class and her fees went up to like $600. My wife could fly on 70k miles and about $50, but the baby just totally messes with pricing. Not worth it, especially when you consider that you can fly Norwegian to Gatwick for $150 per person! So I'm going to book them two seats round trip, and it'll only cost about $500 total. Nice when USSF foots the bill to and from for me!

 

Anyone have any experience playing, or attempting to play, St. Andrews? I've already got the green light if we go that route. I've heard that it's easiest to book a package and have them handle getting you on, rather than doing the lottery thing. I watch a lot of Crossfield videos and Rory's company, YourGolfTravel, seems like it'll be the best bet for getting out there. $400 gets you a night in a B&B near St. Andrews, a round at the Old Course, and a round at another course in the area. Not too bad! But if you have experience even looking into playing there, let me know. I'll consider all options. If I can check St. Andrews off the list....oh man.

 

Spain's still in the mix, especially since we could hop a ferry to Morocco and do a few days over there as well. Seems like it'd be a great experience, even without golf.

 

Brian, my wife and I are going to put in for the lottery all next week. I got the OK to stay in Scotland an extra week and just play after the open is over.

 

I figure we'll just put in for the lottery every day and it will work out at least one of the days. From what I hear if you're more pressed to play on a specific day you can always show up super early (like 2AM) and they will give the no-show spots to those people in line in order. Last time I found a post about it the first 6-8 of those in line got on. I'll let you know how difficult it is for us. $400 for that deal is pretty solid also though so I wouldn't argue with that.

 

I feel like Spain must be pretty good for golf, considering the players that have come out of there. It's also not that rich of a country either.

 

SIDE NOTE: Spent today at Carnoustie for a practice round. Pictures coming shortly. Unfortunately their whole photo uploading system on this forum is not very intuitive every time I've tried.

[Joelness]

Welp, glad I checked St. Andrews just now.... I didn't realize the Senior British Open is there next week. DAMN. Might have to skip a day at Carnoustie for it if we get in on the Ballot.....

[brianhorne8]

Welp, glad I checked St. Andrews just now.... I didn't realize the Senior British Open is there next week. DAMN. Might have to skip a day at Carnoustie for it if we get in on the Ballot.....

 

As it turns out, they have December tee times still available if you contact them directly, so I've already sent an email requesting a time on either the 1st or 2nd.

 

I also saw the thing about if you're a single, you can show up and they may let you join with a two or threesome IF that group allows you to join. Seems like there's a fair chance singles get on pretty regularly. I think you'll have some luck. Really looking forward to your updates from the coming week.

[TheKrushh]

104.3 The Fan is hosting a 2-man scramble on Monday at Colorado Golf Club. $225/person. Details on their website.

 

I'm so very tempted.

 

Just saw this as well....probably too short of notice for me to make it happen though :(

 

The price is worth it to me if you haven't played that course. It would be awesome even if it's scramble format with a buddy.

[Joelness]

Tuesday at the Open:

 

First impressions of the Carnoustie: Typical overall flat links course but with mounding everywhere. The 2nd cut long fescue is pretty wispy and almost not even penal. The big problems come from gourse bushes.

 

Second Impressions: 17 was my favorite hole. Iron off the tee and a mid/long iron into a tough green complex. 14 tee will be a key shot all week. It's a short par 5 and looks to be either birdie or bogey based on your tee shot. 18 is a tough finish. With the weather forecast and the course conditions I saw the winner will be going low this week unless the course gets MUCH firmer and faster.

 

Third Impressions: Jordan is a little bigger then I remember. Him and Justin Thomas love to side-bet. Jordan bet Justin he couldn't make it on 18 with two 5-ironds. Bubba is in Love with Webb Simpson's caddie. Everyone is signing autographs. DJ and Brooks are BEATS. Everyone was hitting it a lot straighter then I expected. Justin Thomas was hitting it really good.

 

I posted and will continue to post videos to the link below all week:

https://1drv.ms/f/s!...kQxnq_da3aZQkXb

 

NOTE: I only walked about nine or ten holes today. My friends didn't want to walk around that much. Tomorrow I will catch the rest without them.

[Joelness]

104.3 The Fan is hosting a 2-man scramble on Monday at Colorado Golf Club. $225/person. Details on their website.

 

I'm so very tempted.

 

Just saw this as well....probably too short of notice for me to make it happen though :(

 

The price is worth it to me if you haven't played that course. It would be awesome even if it's scramble format with a buddy.

 

I agree with Krushh, it's my favorite track in Colorado hands down!

[pseudoswede]

104.3 The Fan is hosting a 2-man scramble on Monday at Colorado Golf Club. $225/person. Details on their website.

 

I'm so very tempted.

 

Just saw this as well....probably too short of notice for me to make it happen though :(

 

The price is worth it to me if you haven't played that course. It would be awesome even if it's scramble format with a buddy.

 

Heck, I was thinking of "pairing" up with another WRX'er who also just wants to play the course. We'd just play our own ball, and make up a scramble score.

 

Alas, I don't think I can swing it. The sucky part of contractor life is that I only get paid hours I work, so taking time off during the week is bad--and I can't work four 10s the rest of the week due to other committments.

[brianhorne8]

Tuesday at the Open:

 

First impressions of the Carnoustie: Typical overall flat links course but with mounding everywhere. The 2nd cut long fescue is pretty wispy and almost not even penal. The big problems come from gourse bushes.

 

Second Impressions: 17 was my favorite hole. Iron off the tee and a mid/long iron into a tough green complex. 14 tee will be a key shot all week. It's a short par 5 and looks to be either birdie or bogey based on your tee shot. 18 is a tough finish. With the weather forecast and the course conditions I saw the winner will be going low this week unless the course gets MUCH firmer and faster.

 

Third Impressions: Jordan is a little bigger then I remember. Him and Justin Thomas love to side-bet. Jordan bet Justin he couldn't make it on 18 with two 5-ironds. Bubba is in Love with Webb Simpson's caddie. Everyone is signing autographs. DJ and Brooks are BEATS. Everyone was hitting it a lot straighter then I expected. Justin Thomas was hitting it really good.

 

I posted and will continue to post videos to the link below all week:

https://1drv.ms/f/s!...kQxnq_da3aZQkXb

 

NOTE: I only walked about nine or ten holes today. My friends didn't want to walk around that much. Tomorrow I will catch the rest without them.

 

Thanks for the vids. Practice rounds look like a good time!

[masamitsu]

Tuesday at the Open:

 

First impressions of the Carnoustie: Typical overall flat links course but with mounding everywhere. The 2nd cut long fescue is pretty wispy and almost not even penal. The big problems come from gourse bushes.

 

Second Impressions: 17 was my favorite hole. Iron off the tee and a mid/long iron into a tough green complex. 14 tee will be a key shot all week. It's a short par 5 and looks to be either birdie or bogey based on your tee shot. 18 is a tough finish. With the weather forecast and the course conditions I saw the winner will be going low this week unless the course gets MUCH firmer and faster.

 

Third Impressions: Jordan is a little bigger then I remember. Him and Justin Thomas love to side-bet. Jordan bet Justin he couldn't make it on 18 with two 5-ironds. Bubba is in Love with Webb Simpson's caddie. Everyone is signing autographs. DJ and Brooks are BEATS. Everyone was hitting it a lot straighter then I expected. Justin Thomas was hitting it really good.

 

I posted and will continue to post videos to the link below all week:

https://1drv.ms/f/s!...kQxnq_da3aZQkXb

 

NOTE: I only walked about nine or ten holes today. My friends didn't want to walk around that much. Tomorrow I will catch the rest without them.

 

Thanks for the videos - looks like a great time.

 

In video 1, is that Cantlay play with Jordan and Justin?

[CDM]

Tuesday at the Open:

 

First impressions of the Carnoustie: Typical overall flat links course but with mounding everywhere. The 2nd cut long fescue is pretty wispy and almost not even penal. The big problems come from gourse bushes.

 

Second Impressions: 17 was my favorite hole. Iron off the tee and a mid/long iron into a tough green complex. 14 tee will be a key shot all week. It's a short par 5 and looks to be either birdie or bogey based on your tee shot. 18 is a tough finish. With the weather forecast and the course conditions I saw the winner will be going low this week unless the course gets MUCH firmer and faster.

 

Third Impressions: Jordan is a little bigger then I remember. Him and Justin Thomas love to side-bet. Jordan bet Justin he couldn't make it on 18 with two 5-ironds. Bubba is in Love with Webb Simpson's caddie. Everyone is signing autographs. DJ and Brooks are BEATS. Everyone was hitting it a lot straighter then I expected. Justin Thomas was hitting it really good.

 

I posted and will continue to post videos to the link below all week:

https://1drv.ms/f/s!...kQxnq_da3aZQkXb

 

NOTE: I only walked about nine or ten holes today. My friends didn't want to walk around that much. Tomorrow I will catch the rest without them.

 

Nice Vid's. Does look flat and very dry...

[masamitsu]

Players are discussing how the fairways are faster than the greens. If the wind doesn't blow, the scores will be low this week.

[pseudoswede]

Random question: does West Woods' clubhouse have a locker room/shower facility? I need to head to downtown after golf on Sunday for dinner, and it would be nice to freshen up.

[Joelness]

Thanks for the videos - looks like a great time.

 

In video 1, is that Cantlay play with Jordan and Justin?

 

Good eye sir, it sure is. Jimmy Walker added himself to the group today also. The whole group was done after 9 holes today though.

[LooperCon]

104.3 The Fan is hosting a 2-man scramble on Monday at Colorado Golf Club. $225/person. Details on their website.

 

I'm so very tempted.

 

Just saw this as well....probably too short of notice for me to make it happen though :(

 

The price is worth it to me if you haven't played that course. It would be awesome even if it's scramble format with a buddy.

 

Heck, I was thinking of "pairing" up with another WRX'er who also just wants to play the course. We'd just play our own ball, and make up a scramble score.

 

Alas, I don't think I can swing it. The sucky part of contractor life is that I only get paid hours I work, so taking time off during the week is bad--and I can't work four 10s the rest of the week due to other committments.

 

I feel your pain....just started a new job, so I probably should t be taking days off already haha

[masamitsu]

Thanks for the videos - looks like a great time.

 

In video 1, is that Cantlay play with Jordan and Justin?

 

Good eye sir, it sure is. Jimmy Walker added himself to the group today also. The whole group was done after 9 holes today though.

 

Thanks. Enjoy your time over there.

 

Oh, and let's hope Speith figures out his putting woes and brings home the trophy again.