Mini Tour Play

[BritBoy]

Just curious, but how do they dress up the courses for you guys? Let the rough grow in, speed up the greens etc.?

[Ben]

Nah, its nothing like that. These one-day mini tour events aren't big enough just justify toughening up the course. The courses are set-up just like any normal day. Sometimes the greens are a little more slick, but that's about it.

[flash]

What does 1st.pay,on an average? On the island here the guys pay $100.00 before teeing up and usually there are 40 players which isn't many but most games are during the weekend when most of the pros are working at their home track.anyways......... 1st.here is 60% or $2400.00.I've played against a few U.S. guys and just glad you aren't playing up here because your caliber of players is must greater than ours.sorry...but stay there for May through Sept. lol Cheers Flash

[Ben]

^^ Fortunatley, or maybe unfortunaley, we have four different mini tours to choose from here in socal. Kinda dilutes the field, as more often than not tournaments from each tour overlap each other. A typical win for a one day event will get you from $800-$1500.

[dbornack]

Played in a

I played on the Gateway Tour in PHX about 4 years back.. not sure if they've expanded to other states or not.. I think they were doing something in SoCal around 2004.. Did some Pepsi Tour stuff (they seemed very disorganized at running events), and some Dakota Tour stuff.. I'm itching to get back out and do it while I'm still young..

[Ben]

I played on the Gateway Tour in PHX about 4 years back.. not sure if they've expanded to other states or not.. I think they were doing something in SoCal around 2004.. Did some Pepsi Tour stuff (they seemed very disorganized at running events), and some Dakota Tour stuff.. I'm itching to get back out and do it while I'm still young..

Yeah, Pepsi Tour was a bit suspect a few years back, but, they've got their stuff together now. At least out this way. I played with a guy that did that Dakotas Tour. The way he described it made it seem like the best mini around.

[dbornack]

What does 1st.pay,on an average? On the island here the guys pay $100.00 before teeing up and usually there are 40 players which isn't many but most games are during the weekend when most of the pros are working at their home track.anyways......... 1st.here is 60% or $2400.00.I've played against a few U.S. guys and just glad you aren't playing up here because your caliber of players is must greater than ours.sorry...but stay there for May through Sept. lol Cheers Flash

Depends a LOT on the tour. The gateway tour I played on in '03 had entry fees around $1200-1500, but the purses were in the 100k range.. 1st would usually come in around $25-30k..

[Ben]

dbornack, what's stopping you from getting back into competition?

For those interested, my results from Monday...

http://pepsitour.com/open_results.asp?tourneyId=2475

[WhiteSoxFan]

Congrats Ben! Looks like you had a solid round.

Hey everyone - Beers are on Ben!!!

[Shindig]

dbornack, what's stopping you from getting back into competition?

Congrats Ben! I wish someone would pay me $545 to play at Brookside for a day

(I keep meaning to get out there)

[Ben]

Thanks everyone! Instead of beers like WhiteSoxFan proposes, when I make it big I'll get you all passes to the local event. ...(that sounds nice)...

Check this out, found pictures from the ESPN Event. Pic , Pic , Pic .


This is Alan, ( Pic , Pic , Pic ) He's the guy I was riding with, He finished 5 under. We were really feeding off each other that day. Good golf. He was SOLID. Oh, wow, now that I think of this. Alan holed this shot from about 120 for eagle. I knocked mine to about 30 feet and made the putt for birdie.

Group picture

They weren't taking pictures on Sunday. At least not that I remember. I gotta find out when they are playing it on ESPN.

[dbornack]

dbornack, what's stopping you from getting back into competition?

Work. I make a decent living at what I do, and have worked hard for 8 years to get there.. it's such a tough decision to give all of that up and try to play again. First, I live in Chicago, so it would most likely take another move across the country like I did back in '03, so I can play year-round. Second, I'd like to find a buddy to go with me so we can push each other in workouts, practice sessions, etc. The problem with that, is my friend who would be perfect, is in the same position with his job. He just went out on his own as a financial planner, etc... But, we go out, and have beers, and when we start talking under the influence, we really sit there and plan it all out, and say "We should do it again while we're still young".. but, it just never happens. At this very moment, I'm contemplating getting my amateur status back or not. There are a lot of awesome amateur tournaments in Chicago.. so it's a tough decision. I guess my industry will always be there for me, if I ever need to come back to it.. I just have to become re-acustomed to living on very little means for a couple of years..

[Terrier]

Played 9 today with the leading money winner on one of the mini tours.

Slope: 127 (7,000 yards from the back tees)
Course record: 65 (by a well-known tour TV pro)

Nicest guy that's been around the block. Never played the course before and he shot a 34 in windy, cold conditions (2-under).

Totally enjoyable round and a pleasure just to get out with him.

Competition is tough out there for those players trying to make it. My hat's off to ya'll on those tours gunning for the big time...

[Ben]

I forgot to post that the ESPN National Challenge was being televised today. I actually got on the air too. Too bad one of the shots was me dumping it in the water. Maybe they'll show a replay? It was on ESPN2. National Golf Challenge.

[FIJIGolf23]

Haha, that's funny because I saw it on TV earlier and thought about this thread. I watched it for a little while thinking I might see ya on there, but I must've missed it.

[Terrier]

I forgot to post that the ESPN National Challenge was being televised today. I actually got on the air too. Too bad one of the shots was me dumping it in the water. Maybe they'll show a replay? It was on ESPN2. National Golf Challenge.

If you were not on ESPN2 -- why weren't you playing in the Myrtle Beach Calcutta this weekend?

The Tarheel Tour players were there. Gateway, check. Other mini-tour players were there. Those that didn't want to play for their Q-card were there. Nerves not good enough -- or game not enough -- to play in the world's (as it is billed) largest golf-gambling match? Ben? why didn't you play this weekend? Didn't have a backer?

[Ben]

Haha, that's funny because I saw it on TV earlier and thought about this thread. I watched it for a little while thinking I might see ya on there, but I must've missed it.

Yeah, I was at my Dad's earlier, he'd tivo'ed it for me. I got to watch it again. Saw myself twice. Name was up on the leaderboard too, for a while at least. They even pronounced my name correctly! Pops burned me a copy, I'm trying to catch some good shots now to post...

[Terrier]

Yeah, I was at my Dad's earlier, he'd tivo'ed it for me. I got to watch it again. Saw myself twice. Name was up on the leaderboard too, for a while at least. Pops burned me a copy, I'm trying to catch some good shots now to post...

You should've been standing over a serious putt amongst the hustlers.