WRXers Scratch Amateur Tournaments Thread: Commitments, Results, etc....

[Shades234]

Wow Obee that field looks stacked. Have fun & play well.

[Shades234]

I've got a few events coming up in May. This'll be the start of my tournament season. First is a tune-up SCGA ODS at Riverwalk in SD. Going to try to get the competitive juices flowing with this one and build some momentum heading into my Cal State Am qualifier on May 6th out at Shadowridge. I'll cap the month with the Fresno City Am up at Riverside GC over Memorial Day. I grew up there, so it's a fun event to come back to.

 

edit: I'm playing off a ~2 right now. I joined a club several months back and I thought it would be good for my game. Feel like it was great for my game, but terrible for my vanity cap. I've started buying used balls for when I play at home. lol

[Obee]

Thought I'd share this with you guys. It's a great write-up by the winner. I wish every one of you could experience the conditions at Lakeside for the Kelly Cup. The course is so fantastically and wonderfully difficult yet fair. Read the article below to see just how tough, coming from a 15-year pro who only recently got his amateur status back). This year, I played absolutely horribly on day 2 and badly missed the cut. Did finish 5th a few years ago and am one of very few players (a dozen or so?) to shoot a round under par in a round at The Kelly Cup in the last dozen years or so. But this year I was crapola.

 

http://amateurgolf.com/golf-tournament-news/23803/Player-blog--Dan-Buchner-on-a-breakthrough-Kelly-Cup-victory

[b.helts]

Bucky!! We played at UCSB together. Good dude. Good player. Haven’t seen him in years.

 

Awesome rhythm to his swing.

[Ty_Webb]

First individual event of the season starts tomorrow. It's a one round qualifier with top 16 going into matchplay. Then two rounds Friday and two rounds Saturday. It's going to be an interesting one, because it's my daughter's birthday party on Saturday. My life will not be worth living if I am not there for that, so I'll be trying, but not that hard. Be interesting to see how that pans out. I also played 12 rounds in 9 days earlier in the month, but haven't played since, which sometimes doesn't bode well. I was playing pretty well, but no drivers on the range and OOB left off the first tee. Haven't decided what to do yet. May hit a long iron to be safe, although Scott Fawcett would not be amused I think. Given my not particularly wanting to get through, perhaps driver is the right play.

[Obee]

> @"b.helts" said:

> Bucky!! We played at UCSB together. Good dude. Good player. Haven’t seen him in years.

>

> Awesome rhythm to his swing.

 

David Bartman also played. He was a senior when Bucky was a freshman.

[gioguy21]

i'll be playing the following:

-USGA US Open (local) @ Medford Village Country Club (Medford, NJ) on 9 May

-NJSGA Mid Am Qualifier @ Copper Hill Country Club (Ringoes, NJ) on 15 May

-NJSGA Amateur Qualifier @ Fiddler's Elbow Country Club (Bedminster, NJ) on 11 June

-NJSGA State Open Qualifier @ Essex Fells Country Club (Essex Fells, NJ) on 24 June

 

*in the last 3 years i've made 2 Amateurs, 1 Mid-Am, and 1 Open; I only started playing competitive golf 3 years ago.

[Obee]

> @gioguy21 said:

> i'll be playing the following:

> -USGA US Open (local) @ Medford Village Country Club (Medford, NJ) on 9 May

> -NJSGA Mid Am Qualifier @ Copper Hill Country Club (Ringoes, NJ) on 15 May

> -NJSGA Amateur Qualifier @ Fiddler's Elbow Country Club (Bedminster, NJ) on 11 June

> -NJSGA State Open Qualifier @ Essex Fells Country Club (Essex Fells, NJ) on 24 June

>

> *in the last 3 years i've made 2 Amateurs, 1 Mid-Am, and 1 Open; I only started playing competitive golf 3 years ago.

 

That's fantastic! How old are you? When did you first take up the game? What's your sports background?

[gioguy21]

> @Obee said:

> > @gioguy21 said:

> > i'll be playing the following:

> > -USGA US Open (local) @ Medford Village Country Club (Medford, NJ) on 9 May

> > -NJSGA Mid Am Qualifier @ Copper Hill Country Club (Ringoes, NJ) on 15 May

> > -NJSGA Amateur Qualifier @ Fiddler's Elbow Country Club (Bedminster, NJ) on 11 June

> > -NJSGA State Open Qualifier @ Essex Fells Country Club (Essex Fells, NJ) on 24 June

> >

> > *in the last 3 years i've made 2 Amateurs, 1 Mid-Am, and 1 Open; I only started playing competitive golf 3 years ago.

>

> That's fantastic! How old are you? When did you first take up the game? What's your sports background?

 

I'm 33 (will be 34 in August), i started playing when i was 6 years old and the only teacher i've ever had has been my grandfather (just turned 89 last saturday - still plays 2x a week). I broke 100 at 12, 90 at 13 and got to sub 5 handicap in High School --- but i also threw a baseball mid 90's. always been an athlete, played baseball in college (pitcher) and had cups of coffee with half a dozen teams -- but never got a shot. since being out of college i've had to take my competitive drive to something -- and i took it back to golf and getting back on track to lower scores. i'm 6'3", 220 - always been a big hitter for the most part (290 carry or so with driver) -- but have been working harder and harder on consistency.

 

i'm playing off a +1.2 at the moment (GHIN 1194646) -- but the greens around here have robbed me of shooting much lower thanks to aeration season.

[b.helts]

> @Obee said:

> > @"b.helts" said:

> > Bucky!! We played at UCSB together. Good dude. Good player. Haven’t seen him in years.

> >

> > Awesome rhythm to his swing.

>

> David Bartman also played. He was a senior when Bucky was a freshman.

 

Bartman was gone by the time I got there. I know of him but don’t know him.

[ddetts]

Entered:

SDGA Mid-Am, June 1-2

Club Championship, Aug 3-4

 

Tentative:

SDGA Amatuer Championship, Aug 9-11

USGA Mid-Am local qualifying 8/18/19 (if I can get my handicap low enough by then)

SDGA Mid-Am Two-Man Championship, Sep 7-8

[Obee]

> @ddetts said:

> Entered:

> SDGA Mid-Am, June 1-2

> Club Championship, Aug 3-4

>

> Tentative:

> SDGA Amatuer Championship, Aug 9-11

> USGA Mid-Am local qualifying 8/18/19 (if I can get my handicap low enough by then)

> SDGA Mid-Am Two-Man Championship, Sep 7-8

 

SD? South Dakota? San Diego? Santo Domingo? ;-)

[ebrasmus21]

> @Shades234 said:

> I've got a few events coming up in May. This'll be the start of my tournament season. First is a tune-up SCGA ODS at Riverwalk in SD. Going to try to get the competitive juices flowing with this one and build some momentum heading into my Cal State Am qualifier on May 6th out at Shadowridge. I'll cap the month with the Fresno City Am up at Riverside GC over Memorial Day. I grew up there, so it's a fun event to come back to.

>

> edit: I'm playing off a ~2 right now. I joined a club several months back and I thought it would be good for my game. Feel like it was great for my game, but terrible for my vanity cap. I've started buying used balls for when I play at home. lol

 

Maybe I’ll see you at the Fresno City. I’m not playing but a few guys from my club play in it all the time and one is a 5x champ. I’ll probably be there the final round to check out the action.

 

Good luck!

[Shades234]

> @Obee said:

> Thought I'd share this with you guys. It's a great write-up by the winner. I wish every one of you could experience the conditions at Lakeside for the Kelly Cup. The course is so fantastically and wonderfully difficult yet fair. Read the article below to see just how tough, coming from a 15-year pro who only recently got his amateur status back). This year, I played absolutely horribly on day 2 and badly missed the cut. Did finish 5th a few years ago and am one of very few players (a dozen or so?) to shoot a round under par in a round at The Kelly Cup in the last dozen years or so. But this year I was crapola.

>

> http://amateurgolf.com/golf-tournament-news/23803/Player-blog--Dan-Buchner-on-a-breakthrough-Kelly-Cup-victory

 

Really nice writeup. Hard to find information about this tournament. Is it only through amateurgolf.com? Or do you have to be connected to Lakeside in some way?

 

> @ebrasmus21 said:

> > @Shades234 said:

> > I've got a few events coming up in May. This'll be the start of my tournament season. First is a tune-up SCGA ODS at Riverwalk in SD. Going to try to get the competitive juices flowing with this one and build some momentum heading into my Cal State Am qualifier on May 6th out at Shadowridge. I'll cap the month with the Fresno City Am up at Riverside GC over Memorial Day. I grew up there, so it's a fun event to come back to.

> >

> > edit: I'm playing off a ~2 right now. I joined a club several months back and I thought it would be good for my game. Feel like it was great for my game, but terrible for my vanity cap. I've started buying used balls for when I play at home. lol

>

> Maybe I’ll see you at the Fresno City. I’m not playing but a few guys from my club play in it all the time and one is a 5x champ. I’ll probably be there the final round to check out the action.

>

> Good luck!

 

Thanks man. Love playing Riverside under these conditions. You should play if it's not too late to sign up. I almost always learn something about myself when I play a tournament round.

[ebrasmus21]

> @Shades234 said:

> > @Obee said:

> > Thought I'd share this with you guys. It's a great write-up by the winner. I wish every one of you could experience the conditions at Lakeside for the Kelly Cup. The course is so fantastically and wonderfully difficult yet fair. Read the article below to see just how tough, coming from a 15-year pro who only recently got his amateur status back). This year, I played absolutely horribly on day 2 and badly missed the cut. Did finish 5th a few years ago and am one of very few players (a dozen or so?) to shoot a round under par in a round at The Kelly Cup in the last dozen years or so. But this year I was crapola.

> >

> > http://amateurgolf.com/golf-tournament-news/23803/Player-blog--Dan-Buchner-on-a-breakthrough-Kelly-Cup-victory

>

> Really nice writeup. Hard to find information about this tournament. Is it only through amateurgolf.com? Or do you have to be connected to Lakeside in some way?

>

> > @ebrasmus21 said:

> > > @Shades234 said:

> > > I've got a few events coming up in May. This'll be the start of my tournament season. First is a tune-up SCGA ODS at Riverwalk in SD. Going to try to get the competitive juices flowing with this one and build some momentum heading into my Cal State Am qualifier on May 6th out at Shadowridge. I'll cap the month with the Fresno City Am up at Riverside GC over Memorial Day. I grew up there, so it's a fun event to come back to.

> > >

> > > edit: I'm playing off a ~2 right now. I joined a club several months back and I thought it would be good for my game. Feel like it was great for my game, but terrible for my vanity cap. I've started buying used balls for when I play at home. lol

> >

> > Maybe I’ll see you at the Fresno City. I’m not playing but a few guys from my club play in it all the time and one is a 5x champ. I’ll probably be there the final round to check out the action.

> >

> > Good luck!

>

> Thanks man. Love playing Riverside under these conditions. You should play if it's not too late to sign up. I almost always learn something about myself when I play a tournament round.

 

I actually wanted to play but it’s just not in the cards for me this year. I’ll hardly be home this month and when I’m traveling I rarely have any time at all to play or practice.

 

For my first big time tournament I’d like to at least feel a little prepared. I’ll plan on competing next year as it’s one of my golf bucket-list items.

[ddetts]

> @Obee said:

> > @ddetts said:

> > Entered:

> > SDGA Mid-Am, June 1-2

> > Club Championship, Aug 3-4

> >

> > Tentative:

> > SDGA Amatuer Championship, Aug 9-11

> > USGA Mid-Am local qualifying 8/18/19 (if I can get my handicap low enough by then)

> > SDGA Mid-Am Two-Man Championship, Sep 7-8

>

> SD? South Dakota? San Diego? Santo Domingo? ;-)

 

Yes to the first, South Dakota.

[vietnameeh]

Any suggestions. I play in the NCGA 4 ball next weekend at Spyglass.

I can't afford a practice round ($395) lol nor have I ever played there. My understanding is you really need to know where to hit on this course.

Would anyone suggest purchasing some type of yardage book. I've seen a couple online ones like Caddytips. Does anyone have reviews? maybe some tips to play Spyglass.

I would actually play a practice round, but to be honest even if my partner and I careered it we would maybe be top 10 MAYBE lol. So it doesn't make financial sense for me and my girl probably would not be happy if I forked out $400 to play golf right now haha

[Ty_Webb]

> @vietnameeh said:

> Any suggestions. I play in the NCGA 4 ball next weekend at Spyglass.

> I can't afford a practice round ($395) lol nor have I ever played there. My understanding is you really need to know where to hit on this course.

> Would anyone suggest purchasing some type of yardage book. I've seen a couple online ones like Caddytips. Does anyone have reviews? maybe some tips to play Spyglass.

> I would actually play a practice round, but to be honest even if my partner and I careered it we would maybe be top 10 MAYBE lol. So it doesn't make financial sense for me and my girl probably would not be happy if I forked out $400 to play golf right now haha

 

Google earth. There is a measuring tool in it. You can find tees and check fairway widths at your driving distance. Google maps in satellite view will do similar. That’s what I do.

[gioguy21]

> @Ty_Webb said:

> > @vietnameeh said:

> > Any suggestions. I play in the NCGA 4 ball next weekend at Spyglass.

> > I can't afford a practice round ($395) lol nor have I ever played there. My understanding is you really need to know where to hit on this course.

> > Would anyone suggest purchasing some type of yardage book. I've seen a couple online ones like Caddytips. Does anyone have reviews? maybe some tips to play Spyglass.

> > I would actually play a practice round, but to be honest even if my partner and I careered it we would maybe be top 10 MAYBE lol. So it doesn't make financial sense for me and my girl probably would not be happy if I forked out $400 to play golf right now haha

>

> Google earth. There is a measuring tool in it. You can find tees and check fairway widths at your driving distance. Google maps in satellite view will do similar. That’s what I do.

 

+1 -- i use google earth and BlackInk/Quartz X to develop my yardage books. then when i play the course i map the greens myself.

[Ty_Webb]

First individual event of the year today. First tee shot I pulled it at the out of bounds. Hit a provisional down the middle. Found my first in the fairway. Lucky boy. Parted the first 12 holes. Duffed a wedge from 66 yards on 13. Three putted 15 and parred everything else. Now +2. Top 16 go into matchplay. I’m tied 12th with three others and in last of those I think on a match of cards. Likely get tomorrow to go play with some friends of mine but we’ll see. I’m quite pleased. I hit it great. 8/12 fairways and 14 greens, but 35 putts. One three putt par and no birdies. Ugh. Means I don’t have to worry about how to lose tomorrow.

[Obee]

It's an invitational in the truest sense of the word. There are two ways to get in:

 

1) have a longtime tournament participant or member recommend you (and even then you may have to wait a bit)

 

2) have a solid regional or national scratch amateur resume as a mid-am or senior and get a current player or member to recommend you.

 

> @Shades234 said:

> > @Obee said:

> > Thought I'd share this with you guys. It's a great write-up by the winner. I wish every one of you could experience the conditions at Lakeside for the Kelly Cup. The course is so fantastically and wonderfully difficult yet fair. Read the article below to see just how tough, coming from a 15-year pro who only recently got his amateur status back). This year, I played absolutely horribly on day 2 and badly missed the cut. Did finish 5th a few years ago and am one of very few players (a dozen or so?) to shoot a round under par in a round at The Kelly Cup in the last dozen years or so. But this year I was crapola.

> >

> > http://amateurgolf.com/golf-tournament-news/23803/Player-blog--Dan-Buchner-on-a-breakthrough-Kelly-Cup-victory

>

> Really nice writeup. Hard to find information about this tournament. Is it only through amateurgolf.com? Or do you have to be connected to Lakeside in some way?

>

> > @ebrasmus21 said:

> > > @Shades234 said:

> > > I've got a few events coming up in May. This'll be the start of my tournament season. First is a tune-up SCGA ODS at Riverwalk in SD. Going to try to get the competitive juices flowing with this one and build some momentum heading into my Cal State Am qualifier on May 6th out at Shadowridge. I'll cap the month with the Fresno City Am up at Riverside GC over Memorial Day. I grew up there, so it's a fun event to come back to.

> > >

> > > edit: I'm playing off a ~2 right now. I joined a club several months back and I thought it would be good for my game. Feel like it was great for my game, but terrible for my vanity cap. I've started buying used balls for when I play at home. lol

> >

> > Maybe I’ll see you at the Fresno City. I’m not playing but a few guys from my club play in it all the time and one is a 5x champ. I’ll probably be there the final round to check out the action.

> >

> > Good luck!

>

> Thanks man. Love playing Riverside under these conditions. You should play if it's not too late to sign up. I almost always learn something about myself when I play a tournament round.

 

> @vietnameeh said:

> Any suggestions. I play in the NCGA 4 ball next weekend at Spyglass.

> I can't afford a practice round ($395) lol nor have I ever played there. My understanding is you really need to know where to hit on this course.

> Would anyone suggest purchasing some type of yardage book. I've seen a couple online ones like Caddytips. Does anyone have reviews? maybe some tips to play Spyglass.

> I would actually play a practice round, but to be honest even if my partner and I careered it we would maybe be top 10 MAYBE lol. So it doesn't make financial sense for me and my girl probably would not be happy if I forked out $400 to play golf right now haha

 

GolfLogix app is also great.

 

[Ty_Webb]

> @gioguy21 said:

>

>

>

> > @Ty_Webb said:

> > > @vietnameeh said:

> > > Any suggestions. I play in the NCGA 4 ball next weekend at Spyglass.

> > > I can't afford a practice round ($395) lol nor have I ever played there. My understanding is you really need to know where to hit on this course.

> > > Would anyone suggest purchasing some type of yardage book. I've seen a couple online ones like Caddytips. Does anyone have reviews? maybe some tips to play Spyglass.

> > > I would actually play a practice round, but to be honest even if my partner and I careered it we would maybe be top 10 MAYBE lol. So it doesn't make financial sense for me and my girl probably would not be happy if I forked out $400 to play golf right now haha

> >

> > Google earth. There is a measuring tool in it. You can find tees and check fairway widths at your driving distance. Google maps in satellite view will do similar. That’s what I do.

>

> +1 -- i use google earth and BlackInk/Quartz X to develop my yardage books. then when i play the course i map the greens myself.

 

There is a great tutorial on YouTube about how to build your tee shot maps. Here:

[vietnameeh]

Thanks!!!

[Shades234]

> @Obee said:

> It's an invitational in the truest sense of the word. There are two ways to get in:

>

> 1) have a longtime tournament participant or member recommend you (and even then you may have to wait a bit)

>

> 2) have a solid regional or national scratch amateur resume as a mid-am or senior and get a current player or member to recommend you.

>

> > @Shades234 said:

> > > @Obee said:

> > > Thought I'd share this with you guys. It's a great write-up by the winner. I wish every one of you could experience the conditions at Lakeside for the Kelly Cup. The course is so fantastically and wonderfully difficult yet fair. Read the article below to see just how tough, coming from a 15-year pro who only recently got his amateur status back). This year, I played absolutely horribly on day 2 and badly missed the cut. Did finish 5th a few years ago and am one of very few players (a dozen or so?) to shoot a round under par in a round at The Kelly Cup in the last dozen years or so. But this year I was crapola.

> > >

> > > http://amateurgolf.com/golf-tournament-news/23803/Player-blog--Dan-Buchner-on-a-breakthrough-Kelly-Cup-victory

> >

> > Really nice writeup. Hard to find information about this tournament. Is it only through amateurgolf.com? Or do you have to be connected to Lakeside in some way?

> >

> > > @ebrasmus21 said:

> > > > @Shades234 said:

> > > > I've got a few events coming up in May. This'll be the start of my tournament season. First is a tune-up SCGA ODS at Riverwalk in SD. Going to try to get the competitive juices flowing with this one and build some momentum heading into my Cal State Am qualifier on May 6th out at Shadowridge. I'll cap the month with the Fresno City Am up at Riverside GC over Memorial Day. I grew up there, so it's a fun event to come back to.

> > > >

> > > > edit: I'm playing off a ~2 right now. I joined a club several months back and I thought it would be good for my game. Feel like it was great for my game, but terrible for my vanity cap. I've started buying used balls for when I play at home. lol

> > >

> > > Maybe I’ll see you at the Fresno City. I’m not playing but a few guys from my club play in it all the time and one is a 5x champ. I’ll probably be there the final round to check out the action.

> > >

> > > Good luck!

> >

> > Thanks man. Love playing Riverside under these conditions. You should play if it's not too late to sign up. I almost always learn something about myself when I play a tournament round.

>

> > @vietnameeh said:

> > Any suggestions. I play in the NCGA 4 ball next weekend at Spyglass.

> > I can't afford a practice round ($395) lol nor have I ever played there. My understanding is you really need to know where to hit on this course.

> > Would anyone suggest purchasing some type of yardage book. I've seen a couple online ones like Caddytips. Does anyone have reviews? maybe some tips to play Spyglass.

> > I would actually play a practice round, but to be honest even if my partner and I careered it we would maybe be top 10 MAYBE lol. So it doesn't make financial sense for me and my girl probably would not be happy if I forked out $400 to play golf right now haha

>

> GolfLogix app is also great.

>

 

Cool. Thanks for the info. I didn't realize there were so many big mid-am events. I just turned 25, so this is like a whole new golfing world. lol

[Ty_Webb]

> @Ty_Webb said:

> First individual event of the year today. First tee shot I pulled it at the out of bounds. Hit a provisional down the middle. Found my first in the fairway. Lucky boy. Parted the first 12 holes. Duffed a wedge from 66 yards on 13. Three putted 15 and parred everything else. Now +2. Top 16 go into matchplay. I’m tied 12th with three others and in last of those I think on a match of cards. Likely get tomorrow to go play with some friends of mine but we’ll see. I’m quite pleased. I hit it great. 8/12 fairways and 14 greens, but 35 putts. One three putt par and no birdies. Ugh. Means I don’t have to worry about how to lose tomorrow.

 

I stand corrected. Someone dropped out so instead of being 17th (the perfect position) I am now 16th and playing tomorrow. Have to pick my kid up from school right around second round tee times so putting my new clubs into play tomorrow morning. I’m not good at playing to lose. We’ll see how it goes.

[Justsomeguy]

Great thread. I look forward to joining the ranks with a little more time in this great game. Competition brings out our best and worst.

[Ty_Webb]

> @Ty_Webb said:

> > @Ty_Webb said:

> > First individual event of the year today. First tee shot I pulled it at the out of bounds. Hit a provisional down the middle. Found my first in the fairway. Lucky boy. Parted the first 12 holes. Duffed a wedge from 66 yards on 13. Three putted 15 and parred everything else. Now +2. Top 16 go into matchplay. I’m tied 12th with three others and in last of those I think on a match of cards. Likely get tomorrow to go play with some friends of mine but we’ll see. I’m quite pleased. I hit it great. 8/12 fairways and 14 greens, but 35 putts. One three putt par and no birdies. Ugh. Means I don’t have to worry about how to lose tomorrow.

>

> I stand corrected. Someone dropped out so instead of being 17th (the perfect position) I am now 16th and playing tomorrow. Have to pick my kid up from school right around second round tee times so putting my new clubs into play tomorrow morning. I’m not good at playing to lose. We’ll see how it goes.

 

Turned out I didn’t have to try too hard to lose. I got quite beaten up.

[ThinkingPlus]

Played this last week in a senior women's state match play event. I won last year so was the defending champion. Different organization from the TWGA. We have 50 or so clubs participating across the state. Played poorly in the qualifying round, but managed to cruise through match play to win again this year. Greens were brutal with lots of slope and running 11.5 - 12 on the Stimpmeter. 7" of rain in the final 3 days made the course play very sloppy and difficult. Feel very fortunate to win again. Good start to the season for sure.

[ebrasmus21]

> @ThinkingPlus said:

> Played this last week in a senior women's state match play event. I won last year so was the defending champion. Different organization from the TWGA. We have 50 or so clubs participating across the state. Played poorly in the qualifying round, but managed to cruise through match play to win again this year. Greens were brutal with lots of slope and running 11.5 - 12 on the Stimpmeter. 7" of rain in the final 3 days made the course play very sloppy and difficult. Feel very fortunate to win again. Good start to the season for sure.

 

Congrats +

[ThinkingPlus]

> @ebrasmus21 said:

> > @ThinkingPlus said:

> > Played this last week in a senior women's state match play event. I won last year so was the defending champion. Different organization from the TWGA. We have 50 or so clubs participating across the state. Played poorly in the qualifying round, but managed to cruise through match play to win again this year. Greens were brutal with lots of slope and running 11.5 - 12 on the Stimpmeter. 7" of rain in the final 3 days made the course play very sloppy and difficult. Feel very fortunate to win again. Good start to the season for sure.

>

> Congrats +

 

Thanks. It sounds more impressive than it probably is, but the event is more than 60 years old and you get a big honkin cup/pedestal to keep for a year.