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MoneyAM Charity Golf Day 04/06/07 supporting Macmillan Cancer Fund (GOLF)     

Bobcolby - 19 Jan 2007 08:18

Club.jpg

MoneyAM Charity Golf Day June 4th 2007 supporting Macmillan Cancer Fund

Location:

Verulam Golf Club The Home of the Ryder Cup 226 London Road St Albans Hertfordshire AL1 1JG macmillan.jpg

Click here for map

Dear All,

I am organising this years MoneyAM Golf Day which is in aid of the Macmillan Cancer Fund. It will be a great day out and all for a worthy cause.

Macmillan dedicates itself to giving every person in the land equal and ready access to the best information, treatment and care for cancer.

As this years event is a charity event, the total cost of the whole day will be 85 (around 20 - 25 will be donated from every entry to the Macmillan Cancer Fund). This will include all golfing activities on the day, bacon rolls on arrival, lunch, an evening dinner, and prize giving ceremony.

The winners of this years event (the afternoon's Texas Scramble) will get 1 years free subscription to MoneyAM Level 2, and the prestigious MoneyAM Annual Golf Challenge Cup which the team will share.

Second and Third place teams will each receive medals, plus 6 months worth of MoneyAM Level 2

MoneyAM will also get prizes for 1, 2, 3, nearest the pin and longest drive in the morning Stableford competition. I will present a Wooden Spoon on the day, so you should all be wary of that!

Itinerary for the Day

8.30 am onwards: Arrival at VGC Meet and greet bacon rolls on arrival

9.30 am onwards: 11 hole Stableford Tee off in groups of 3/4 from 8.30AM although I expect a number will arrive after 9.30am, either pre arranged or allocated on the day

From 12.30: Light rolling Lunch after completion of morning Stableford. Menu - Cold Meat Buffet with New Potatoes and Salad.

1.30 pm: 18 Hole Texas Scramble Pre-arranged teams of 4, each player must hit at least 3 drives and handicap is 1/8th of combined total. Individual entries will be teamed up by organiser in advance

What is Texas Scramble? This is a game of 3 or 4 player teams. All players in a team tee off then the team chooses their best drive and all 3 or 4 will play their second shot from that spot. This continues until the hole is completed, including putting out. There are many variations of handicapping and play, so I have chosen a percentage of combined HCP, with each team member taking 3 compulsory drives.

7.00 pm Evening Meal and Prize Giving:

Starter: Homemade Soup

Main: Chicken Breast with Gruyere cheese wrapped in Bacon

Dessert: Fruit crumble served with Custard

As with previous years, I will need to collect the cash of all participants up front, and I think we will follow the method we have done before:

Cheques payable to: R W L Colby
And please send your cheques (with a note giving your MoneyAM username) to the following address: Ian Taylor MoneyAM Ltd Thames House 18 Park Street London SE1 9ER

Ian will then forward them on to me.

The nearest train station is St Albans City which is about 1km north, and there is a very good 3 star Quality Inn 300 yards away on London Road for around 75 per night.

This years event which will be the best ever. I hope to see familiar and new faces alike in what could prove to be the biggest Golf day we have had so far. Although I am sure competition will be fierce, this is also designed to be an enjoyable day for all.

If you are interested in coming along (and all are welcome), please can you indicate so on this thread, and we can then start collating numbers and collecting the cash.

I look forward to seeing you all there,

br /> dcb dcbs guest canary9 Pinsticker predateur Paul Turner Richard Purvis Nick Ratcliffe Oli Wren Michael Smith Dan Ainsworth Matt Ross Bullshare IanT(MoneyAM) Rob Bowen David Motum David Weir mg ptholden Bob Hare Ritchie Powell Mike Covill Brian Kensington Andrew Palmer Patrick Latchford David Fineberg

Bobcolby - 25 Jan 2007 11:28 - 35 of 207

Eric

Thanks for your comments and I hope to see you again at this year at Verulam.

Texas Scrambles are fun and, in my experience, very competitive. They are very popular with societies at Verulam GC.

I prefer to stick with a tried and tested format. Our golf professional does not recommend playing the scramble in the morning.

There is no MoneyAM sponsored Individual prize this year. I am actively looking for sponsors for the 11 hole Stableford, if your Iain Rennie supporters could help it will be very much appreciated.

Bob

EWRobson - 25 Jan 2007 12:29 - 36 of 207

Bob I wonder how many views you have sought. We do have Texas Scramble format at our club, say once a month, as a variation to other more competetive formats. However we wouldn't think of doing an invitation event that way and I can't think of any other Kent club that would do that. I think its best to be straight - I wouldn't contemplate the journey if you stick to the proposal nor would I enter a team. My understanding is that this also applies to a number of those who have participated in the last two years. Sorry to be a wet blanket! Eric

Fundamentalist - 25 Jan 2007 13:12 - 37 of 207

Ill add my opinion FWIW

I think the structure of the day is aimed at being all inclusive and structured to accomodate non-golfers as much if not moreso than those who take the game a bit more seriously.

Texas scramble is an ok format for a bit of laugh on a course you are familiar with but for me is the worst possible format to try and appreciate a course that is new to you. Ultimately you hit a drive, an iron shot from the fairway and inevitably are then putting (on a par 4 for example). Many shots you play are irrelevant (a team member has already hit a great shot before you play) and you play few recovery shots. You also get a very one-dimensional view of a course because invariably you play it the standard way. The only way to liven it up is to take some aggressive risks, something you dont want to do on a course you dont know. I assume the pro prefers it knowing that it will speed the game up if there is a high proportion of high handicappers/non regular golfers.

for me the right format for a day like this is a slightly later start 10am ish (as some are going to be travelling long distances) with a fun 9 hole comp in the morning (texas scramble here is fine) then lunch then an 18 hole stableford either singles pairs or team (best 2 of 4 for example)

I would like to bring a team to the event especially as I have a very strong affinity with Macmillan but know i would struggle to get 3 guys to come and play based on that format.

cynic - 25 Jan 2007 13:54 - 38 of 207

fundie ..... merely en passant ..... Texas Scramble is actually surprisingly slow ..... One of the best formats we have adopted is Geensome Foursomes, which is not only quick but also allows the more serious golfer to play plenty of shots.

for thiose who don't know .... in Greensomes, all drive and then you choose which drive to play; alternate shots thereafter .... Another good variation is St Andrews Foursomes where both drive and again choose the best drive, but it is determined before you go out who will take the second shots of the odd holes, and who on the evens

markusantonius - 25 Jan 2007 13:55 - 39 of 207

Bob,

I made the conscious decision to keep my comments to myself ever since I starting being contacted by past competitors [yes, I have received several e-mails and a couple of telephone calls - the latter being even before I first read the thread!].

Basically, OTR feedback is overwhelming and best expressed by the 2 posts, above: Eric and Fundy are both absolutely SPOT ON - and I'm fairly certain that their proposals, if implemented, would bring back the vast majority of the 2005 & 2006 field.

Cynic, as well - just read your post. Agreed, sir.

Otherwise you will merely end up with a social gathering of Bully's corporate guys, twice-a-year hackers and total beginners! If that is the calibre of gathering which you and the powers that be really want then fine. But how many bona fide Club golfers do you honestly think you'll attract now?

Sincerely wish you and the Macmillan Cause well (I've done a major research project for them, a few years ago, and their cause is truly noble and worthy) - I'm more than glad to make a personal contribution. But, with all due respect, I think you have hugely underestimated the needs of our following?

An 08:00 rendezvous would mean an 04:30-05:00 alarm call for myself and there are others travelling from even further a field. Otherwise it then becomes 2 nights in a hotel for what? 29 holes of social golf with an average 25% of strokes counting (Texas Scrambles become slow towards the end of the round!). So, apart from the charity element, the day(s) becomes meaningless.

Kayak - 25 Jan 2007 14:22 - 40 of 207

"...Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch..."

Bobcolby - 25 Jan 2007 15:01 - 41 of 207

Erics comment on the ptholden golf thread in December after I posted the format was and I quote " It sounds like a great idea" I am amazed at his change in attitude.

Moneyam threads are renowned for controversy, but I do not think a Charity occasion is the place to start it.

The only point Marcus has made which is worth clarifying is the morning tee off times. I am expecting 72 players to enter this years event and tee offs are from 8.30am till 11am and will depend on your arrival time.

tudwick - 25 Jan 2007 15:18 - 42 of 207

You can never please everyone Bob... If others want a more serious golf day, let them organise one themselves, guarantee they won't tho. Good on you for at least trying to sort the day out. Stick to your guns

Martini - 25 Jan 2007 15:19 - 43 of 207

What are the club rules on punch ups on the putting greens?

markusantonius - 25 Jan 2007 15:21 - 44 of 207

Bob,

I don't think Eric really believed that you could possibly have meant planning an entire day of playing a "Texas Scramble!"? His "great idea..." statement was probably more in line with getting the ball rolling and its charitable add-on effects (which, I repeat: are very noble).

*** Bob, if you can attract even 20 (yes, twenty!) of your proposed 72 [seventy two?] participants to submit entries, then I will publicly apologise to you *Online, for the whole world to see!* Howzat? ***

We had just 11 and 10 players, respectively, competing in the previous 2 events!! So what on earth makes you think that you can suddenly attract a 600% increase in entries for 29 holes of a Texas Scramble, played on a course which is totally alien to virtually everyone else! / Are we on the same Planet here?

(And, Tudick - Maybe we have already begun making strides in this [your] direction... how would you know anyway?)

Fundamentalist - 25 Jan 2007 15:27 - 45 of 207

tudwick - 25 Jan 2007 15:18 - 42 of 44
You can never please everyone Bob... If others want a more serious golf day, let them organise one themselves, guarantee they won't tho. Good on you for at least trying to sort the day out. Stick to your guns

those that are complaining include the organisers of the previous years comps - what a numpty comment, in addition to which on several occasions on the previous thread myself and others have offered to host

Isaacs - 25 Jan 2007 15:36 - 46 of 207

Bobcolby - I am afraid I am not going to be able to make the event as it is the weekend of my son's birthday party but stick me down for a 85 donation to the "charity fund" (I'll send a cheque to Ian). Well done as well for organising the event. Obviously not all are happy with the format (and with the demise of the singles the Shark will forever be remembered as the man who finished second it seems!) but seems a good way to attract a wider audience.

cynic - 25 Jan 2007 15:51 - 47 of 207

quite right about trying to organise ..... a totally thankless task ..... used to arrange a trip to France for a dozen or so peeps ..... gave up after several years aggravation with peeps not being able to make up their minds (i.e. stump up the money) or cancelling.

however Bob (and sorry to sound like another whinger), i am afraid i too am no fan of TS ..... if format changes, so may my mind, but in any case, may well make a contribution to MacMillan (you've never had it so good!)

IanT(MoneyAM) - 25 Jan 2007 16:01 - 48 of 207

I think that Bob should be congratulated for getting this together and all the hard work he is putting in for this worthy charitable cause. Let us not lose sight of that - this year is for charity, it is open to all comers, and although no doubt on the day competition will have a big part to play, this is intended to be an enjoyable day out for a very good cause.

All are welcome, but if its not for you its not for you,

Well done Bob. Look forward to working with you on this event.

Ian

Bobcolby - 25 Jan 2007 16:08 - 49 of 207

Isaacs

You are a Star. On behalf of the Macmillan fund, your donation is gratefully accepted.

Now that is the kind of post I can use more of on this thread.

Your a Hero and a Gent

Fundamentalist - 25 Jan 2007 16:22 - 50 of 207

I dont think that any of us have questioned either the amount of work Bob is putting in or how worthy the cause is. I myself have in the past organised charity golf days and know at times it can feel that it is a thankless task but that the end result makes it all worthwhile. As i mentioned in my earlier post, i have a close affinity to MacMillan nursing - they made a huge difference in the final months of my mothers life and I contribute to them on a regular basis.

That said, i still feel as potential participants we have a right to express an opinion on the format. I have no problem with the main event being a team event (clearly the direction MAM want to go), I just think there are much better formats than Texas Scramble, my personal preference would be be for the best 2 stableford scores out of 4 for each team to count which thus still enables each individual to play their own ball for the full 18 holes

Bullshare - 25 Jan 2007 17:06 - 51 of 207

I think Bob is spot on with format, the BB comments made by a few last year prompted him and us as a sponsor to rethink the format to make the event inclusive rather than exclusive, we had to seek to find an alternative which gave the MoneyAM users base as a whole an opportunity to meet MoneyAm, enjoy some golf in good company, raise some money for a worthwhile cause and have some fun!

Hopefully the better players who turn up can respect those that play occassionally just as much as I am sure those who play rarely will learn and enjoy the company of those who take a more serious approach to the game. I myself have played(badly) just three games of golf in my life despite numerous lessons, time and family have stopped me from playing more regularly, but am happy to get stuck in.

EWRobson - 25 Jan 2007 18:19 - 52 of 207

Bob I certainly don't recall the Texas Scramble idea coming up on the PTH thread - first knowledge of the proposal was when this thread was opened. But I certainly don't want to get into an argument when you and MoneyAM are putting in the effort and they the financial support.

I will make one more attempt to get you to reconsider the format. Fundy's idea of Texas Scramble in the morning and 4 balls with best two to count on each hole is a well-established and popular format. There is no potential embarrassment for the beginner. I also think it would be extremely difficult to get the numbers you are looking for from the format proposed.

So please reconsider. Eric

Bobcolby - 25 Jan 2007 19:44 - 53 of 207

Eric, try looking at your post 463 dated 16 Jan 2007, 9 days ago, on the pth Golf thread ("Sounds like a fine idea, presumably I can take four shots") which was in response to my post 463 dated 9th dec 2006.

The first organiser in 2005 was pth, read his post 465 whilst you are at it. If that is not a glowing endorsement for this years format, I do not know what is.


canary9 - 25 Jan 2007 19:56 - 54 of 207

Bob, I will play whatever the format, as golf for me is fun with a bit of competition!
I do concur with the comments made by Eric, but applaud your effort to make changes to get more interest.
Good Luck,
Rod
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