Greatest Golfer in the Valley

[Buckeyebowman]

This is a "local interest" type of post. But, I'm wondering if other areas have the same type of event. This is run by the local newspaper, the Youngstown Vindicator in Youngstown, Ohio. It's a 54 hole tournament with a cut after 36 holes.

There are various brackets for play with Men's Open, and Men's in various handicap ranges. There are two Senior divisions (60 to 69) of varying handicaps. Super Seniors (70+), and a Women's bracket. GHIN or league certified HI's are required but only for pairing. It's straight scoring.

The week starts with a scramble tournament. Your team must have won one of 20 "official" scramble tourneys leading into the competition. Thursday brings the long drive contest at a local country club. This year's winner hit 329 yards.

Friday brings the real deal. Everyone plays their first 18 at Mill Creek Park Golf Course, 36 holes of Donald Ross designed golf. I drove down there to check it out, and I've never seen the place so crowded! Thank God there's a facility like this, because there were over 300 entries this year! For Saturday the mob is split up among 4 private country clubs in the area.

Then, after the 36 hole cut, the finalists play The Lake Club. What a beautiful place! It's not all that long, but you'd better be able to talk to your ball and make it follow directions! And it's very hilly. And the greens are like glass!

So, I'm thinking of getting in on this next year. How many other place have something like this?

[iacas]

3 hours ago, Buckeyebowman said:

How many other place have something like this?

Something like what?

It's a 54-hole tournament, in the end, with a lot of participants. Right?

[Grinde6]

We have an "all-city" tournament which was this past weekend.  18 holes at the Arnold Palmer designed Kings Walk and 18 holes at the Country Club.  There are the same types of flights by handicap, and a senior flight too.  For the championship flight they cut after 18 holes in which those players' scores reset and they are in the Presidents flight.  Same type of thing, just less holes and less people.

[David in FL]

The only thing weird about it is starting an individual tournament with a team scramble.  Or are they two different tournaments during the week, the results of one having nothing to do with the other?

If that's the case, nothing unusual at all.

[Buckeyebowman]

No, two different tourneys. As I stated your team has to win one of 20 scramble "qualifiers" in order to be in the GGOV scramble tourney. The long drive contest is an individual event only for those who wish to compete. It's not mandatory.

I guess it's not all that unique, but it's only been in existence for 8 years here since the newspaper got it going. One of the sports editors is the driving force behind it.  Had over 300 participants this year. I thought it was kind of neat.

[Hardspoon]

6 minutes ago, Buckeyebowman said:

I thought it was kind of neat.

Yeah - it's kind of cool to have that many different events/brackets, so everybody has something to enjoy.  I could see it ending up with a "festival" atmosphere, just centered around golf.

I don't know of anything like that around here or in Philly (although I'll admit I haven't really looked).

[Zekez]

On 8/21/2017 at 0:37 AM, iacas said:

Something like what?

It's a 54-hole tournament, in the end, with a lot of participants. Right?

I would think that it is unique in that it is a tournament open to anyone who wants to enter.  I wouldn't think that these are all that common.

[David in FL]

20 minutes ago, Zekez said:

I would think that it is unique in that it is a tournament open to anyone who wants to enter.  I wouldn't think that these are all that common.

I've played in dozens.  Local city and county tournaments abound, along with those like that in the OP, where a major local or regional sponsor puts one on, generally benefiting a local charity.  

Granted, there are fewer that are 54 holes, but they're still all over.  A lot also have any number of skills challenge segments along the way too.  Long drive, putting, chipping, even water skipping onto a green.  They all tend to be fun.

 

[Zekez]

1 hour ago, David in FL said:

I've played in dozens.  Local city and county tournaments abound, along with those like that in the OP, where a major local or regional sponsor puts one on, generally benefiting a local charity.  

Granted, there are fewer that are 54 holes, but they're still all over.  A lot also have any number of skills challenge segments along the way too.  Long drive, putting, chipping, even water skipping onto a green.  They all tend to be fun.

 

I have never noticed them in SW Pa. Maybe I just never looked hard enough. 

 

[Buckeyebowman]

12 hours ago, David in FL said:

I've played in dozens.  Local city and county tournaments abound, along with those like that in the OP, where a major local or regional sponsor puts one on, generally benefiting a local charity.  

Granted, there are fewer that are 54 holes, but they're still all over.  A lot also have any number of skills challenge segments along the way too.  Long drive, putting, chipping, even water skipping onto a green.  They all tend to be fun.

 

True, but look at where you live. You're in Florida! We're in Ohio where we have an actual Winter! You can play year round. This tourney has to find 5 private clubs to host the last two days of this event! I'd say this involves some effort and involvement on the part of the newspaper.

Mind you, there are local scramble tournaments galore all Summer! But, they aren't like this. It's fun yes, but somehow it seems to be serious business. These folks are playing for something!