Thought I might add a lighter moment to the trials and tribulations of the Stock Market in general and have arranged a Golf Challenge, fully supported by Money AM to be held in the heart of the Midlands at Leicestershire's renown golf club at Longcliffe.

Date: Monday 27th June

Practise round tee off 9.30am
Lunch 1.45pm (Sandwichs and soup or chips (cost 4 included in the entrance fee)
Competition round, tee off 2.30pm
Dinner & Prize Giving 7.30pm


PRIZES:

All entrants will get 3 months worth of Shares Magazine sent to their home every week.

Winner will get the MoneyAM Annual Golf Challenge Cup to keep for one year plus 1 years worth of MoneyAM Level 2 service worth 550+.

Second and Third will get a medal to keep, plus 6 months level 2 worth 225+.

Additionally, closest to the pin and longest drive.


Longcliffe Golf Club
Snell's Nook Lane,
Nanpantan,
Loughborough, LE11 3YA

http://www.longcliffegolf.co.uk/the_course.htm

The big day is now but tomorrow. Here is the starting line up:

Morning: Tee off 9.30

Team 1

PTH
Tallsiii
Paul Jacobs

Team 2

Ken Kennison
Paul 1812
Predateur
MG

Team 3

Stuart Lane
Eric Robson
Markus
Canary 9

(Eric will be a wild card for Team 1)

Format will be, maximum handicap of 24 for each player, stableford, best two scores for each hole to count. Thought about the 'orange ball' idea, which we can discuss tomorrow morning, but personally, would rather keep it simple.

Afternoon: Tee off 2.30

Group 1

PJ
Stuart Lane
Predateur

Group 2

Eric Robson
Paul 1812
Tallsiii

Group 3

Bob Colby
MG
Canary 9

Group 4

PTH
Markus
Ken Kennison

Format: Maximum Handicap 24, Stableford. Nearest the pin, holes 5 & 15, longest drive, hole 17. As stated previoulsy there will be a 5 fee to enter the nearest pin and longest drives to purchase some balls, plus a few bottles of wine donated by moi and Eric.

Remember to bring jacket and tie for the evening. If wearing tailored shorts, white socks must be worn.

Also no headbutting, gouging or biting and may the best man (me!) win.

Looking forward to seeing you all tomorrow. I will be at the clubhouse by about 0815, so suggest everyone else gets there not long after so we can have a chat over a cup of coffee. Eric, will find out today if any food will be available on arrival.

Thought that might grab your attention Eric!! What on earth is an 11 wood? Do you use it to putt with as well?

Just an extra 4 degrees of loft compared to a 9 wood, which is 4 degrees .... Great club for recovery from rough, at which I'm a dab-hand as I go in there so often, and stopping a 150 yard approach to the green over a bunker: now I know most of you young chaps take an 8-iron for that but we oldies every help we can get, including acts of God and manipulation of the rules (sorry, meant knowledge of the rules!).

Eric

Eric, correct me if I'm wrong here, but don't you play every day? 18-handicap? (el Bandito!) Hope we are playing together in the Texas Scramble!

Three times a week normally. Handicap going the wrong way, now up to 20. 4bbb match play is my forte; ie. when I haven't got a card in my hands; followed by Texas Scramble - great idea, perhaps you can nobble pth over that, particularly if you include him! Like your idea about teh taylormade rescue club - may give the 24deg version a go!

Eric

PTH - my apologies, but I must withdraw. Have to be at Stansted airport by 6 a.m. on 28th and suspect not as young as most of you guys. Recent short hospitalisation has meant giving way to wife's views that a long day on 27th not on (doesn't always happen!!). Pity as I knocked it round in 84 gross yesterday in medal off back tees and with a gammy elbow. Upside is do your research on private care sector - both BUPA hospitals I "visited" were incredibly busy (and frighteningly expensive).

Partridge

Many thanks for letting me know, shame you cannot make it, sounds like you are playing well!

PTH

Dave1980
Tallsiii
Fundy
Paul1812 PAID Handicap 9
Markus
Eric W R Handicap 20
PTH PAID Handicap 18
Predateur
Canary9
Bos
Scrip
Brain2Brain
Pjacobs
Cunningham
Bob Colby PAID
MG
Andy Smith
Tony Andrews?

With the exception of Partridge not being able to participate, no further news to report. No more cheques received or handicaps notified. Although plenty of time to go, feeling slightly nervous that after an initial bout of enthusiasm, not much progress is been made. Come on chaps, confirm your participation with some dosh.

Regards

PTH

Pete, should be able to confirm this week when the work boss is back. Just have to check that is not the week of my visit to the other side of the pond, otherwise OK. Handicap for me will be full monty, two rounds this year of 110 and 105 says it all.

Peter: paid about a week ago; I think Ian Taylor is holding on to the money to send them in batches. Have we tried Shares people?

Eric

I'll drop Ian a line and check.

PTH

PTH

My official handicap is 17, with certificate. If I read the earlier posts correctly, 75% of HCP means I will have to play 4 shots better than my HCP to get 36 points, whilst a 5 HCP will only have to play 1 shot better to get 36 points. IE the comp is heavily weighted in favour of single handicappers.

As you already have suggested a handicap limit to deter bandits, why not give the customary Full allowance?

Regards

Bob

Bob

the 3/4 allowance is because the competition is a stableford which is designed to favour the higher handicapper (ie it doesnt matter if you have a 7/8/9 or worse) - if you want to play full allowance then the comp should be medal


(the standard category 1 player response lol)

Most away days & society events seem to be Stabs these days but I must agree with Fundie's comments regarding allowances. We could always have a vote on it (100%-handicap Medal or 100%- or 75%-handicap Stab), say once a player has submitted his cheque to PTH? Otherwise we should maybe let PTH have the final say, after all it's his inaugural tournament and he is doing all the organising which I can asure everyone is very time consuming and involves a lot of man hours behind the scenes. Whereas all the rest of have to do is: turn up, eat, drink, chat & play!

I will be paying PTH in cash when have a social round at LGC later this month. But for what it's worth, my vote would be for: a 3/4-handicap Stableford Comp. because a Medal will only slow the mid-higher 'cappers down and might demoralise a few players a bit too early in the round! Even if you have a ten on 1 hole, you are still in the frame with a Stableford comp.

Evening all

Many valid points reference the allowable handicap and format. Certainly I agree with Markus that the format should be Stableford, a Medal round at Longcliffe for first timers has the potential to destroy many score cards and ruin the day for those who have a bad hole or two; whereas the Stableford format allows for a few disasters and it's not the end of the world. So Stableford it will be! Regarding maximum handicap, I really don't mind if it is full or 75%. It's not really my challenge, but all those participating, so please vote when you have coughed up the dosh and I will annotate the list accordingly.

Regards to all

PTH

Dave1980
Tallsiii
Fundy / Handicap 5 / 75% Handicap
Paul1812 / PAID / Handicap 9
Markus / 75% Handicap
Eric W R / Handicap 20
PTH / PAID / Handicap 18 / 75% Handicap
Predateur
Canary9
Bos
Scrip
Brain2Brain
Pjacobs
Cunningham
Bob Colby PAID Handicap 17
MG
Andy Smith
Tony Andrews?

Agree with Stableford, I play in a few of these at invitations and as a player of 100-110, you can pick your ball up on a crap hole and move on. At the end of the day though we should all just enjoy the day, someone has to win but who really cares? Should be able to confirm tomorrow Pete.

PTH

handicap is 5, vote for 75%, cheque is in the post

Thanks Fundy

vote stableford 3/4 h'cap

PTH

Handicap 13, agree with 75%, at least some of the bandits might get less than 45 points that way ;)

Cheque in the post