Play in Invitational Tournaments?

[Awarren11]

Something that used to be huge here in Kentucky, especially in the early to mid 2000s was 2 day invitational tournaments at courses around the state. When the economy and golf took a turn down a lot of these went away or have gotten less popular. These are still really popular in certain pockets of the state. My club still hosts one of these and I play in 3-4 a year in addition to my regular club events and some of the state association events.

 

Do many of you guys play in these and are they very popular in your state/area?

 

What do they cost?

 

What do you look for out of the invitational tournaments you play in?

 

Any winners here?

[Pepperturbo]

Its been over four years, but I played in a number of similar events, including regional events here in the West. Good experience, but ranking was nothing to talk about. I don't recall costs exactly, but they were not that much. Anyhow, some event rounds averaged over 5hrs, with some reaching 6hrs+, and that's when I said 'no more'. We're not talking about a bunch of 15 handi's trying to win their category, but 4 index and lower golfers that should know better. I never understood it. Though fun, they really don't lead anywhere to speak of, just provide touranment experience.

I still hear of a few Calcutta's at private clubs, but haven't been able to sign up due to obligations. There is, however, a chance I will be playing in a senior am event later this year.

[deadsolid...shank]

OP, are you talking about "Open" stroke play events where anyone can show up and play, or "invitational" events where you have to be invited to participate?

The reason I ask is we don't have any invitationals around here so I'm not sure if they are out there for the rank and file amateur.

And we used to have several open tournaments, each course usually had one each summer. Now there are only a couple left. Everyone wants to play scrambles.

The few stroke play tournaments usually run about $60-75 dollars for a two day event and Saturday night dinner.

[Awarren11]

Yes they are more Open events these days. I still call them Invitationals because at one point in time it was tougher to get in them and they were usually called Invitationals. But yes, a 2 day open stroke play event.

[deadsolid...shank]

[quote name='Awarren11' timestamp='1421382676' post='10755469']
Yes they are more Open events these days. I still call them Invitationals because at one point in time it was tougher to get in them and they were usually called Invitationals. But yes, a 2 day open stroke play event.
[/quote]

Got ya. In our sparsely populated area there's never been a need for a invite only event. I don't know if I can even remember an open even ever being full.

[Imp]

In Rhode Island (RIGA), they have, along with various opens and other competitions, "Invitational" events. At the beginning of the year, they put up 5 or 6 packages of 6 courses each, some private, some public and you send in your foursome with what package you want. It's stableford for each round (all handicap based, and can get Gift Certificates based on flight). Top points earners of the 5 or 6 packages at the end of the year then compete against each other in a championship. It's really fun and gives you access to courses one wouldn't play unless as a member or guest. I won one of the 6 rounds a couple years ago which got me a GC to the club for a small amount which was fun. I didn't have enough points through the year to make it to the championship though.

http://www.rigalinks.org/club/scripts/library/view_document.asp?NS=TOURN&DN=INVIT

In Mass, they call them "Member Days" http://www.mgalinks.org/memberdays/index.html

Is this what you were asking about?

[Funyuns]

The private/semi-private clubs around me (Western KY) still have them, though as mentioned before they are open to anyone willing to sign up. Non handicapped, flighted stroke play over 2 days. Top 8-10 from day one tee off last the second day. I hope to play in the one at my club this year. Maybe even finish "not last".

One thing that struck me is that they always play it up or at least preferred lies in the fairways at my club's Invitational. The reasoning last year was the fairways took a beating over the winter and were bare anywhere that wasn't zoysia. I think they have some reason every year though. Usually a pretty good turn out for as small of a club as we have, around 100 guys played both days last year. Some pretty dang good score get posted as well.

[Awarren11]

[quote name='Funyuns' timestamp='1421848027' post='10789549']
The private/semi-private clubs around me (Western KY) still have them, though as mentioned before they are open to anyone willing to sign up. Non handicapped, flighted stroke play over 2 days. Top 8-10 from day one tee off last the second day. I hope to play in the one at my club this year. Maybe even finish "not last".

One thing that struck me is that they always play it up or at least preferred lies in the fairways at my club's Invitational. The reasoning last year was the fairways took a beating over the winter and were bare anywhere that wasn't zoysia. I think they have some reason every year though. Usually a pretty good turn out for as small of a club as we have, around 100 guys played both days last year. Some pretty dang good score get posted as well.
[/quote]

Exactly the type of tournament I am talking about.

I played in one in Central KY this past year that had Bermuda that they were still suffering from winter kill so they played it up, but that was unusual for that tournament. My club hosts an invitational, but what is your club Funyuns?

[Funyuns]

[quote name='Awarren11' timestamp='1421966520' post='10799797']

Exactly the type of tournament I am talking about.

I played in one in Central KY this past year that had Bermuda that they were still suffering from winter kill so they played it up, but that was unusual for that tournament. My club hosts an invitational, but what is your club Funyuns?
[/quote]

Same case for us last year, winter destroyed the fairways and caused quite a bit of cart path damage. Still a few months to go, hopefully nothing like that again this year. I believe the issue was it got warm enough to get everything out of dormancy then froze hard for a week or so. The year before that I believe the reasoning was it had been so wet that they couldn't keep the rough under control, so play it up everywhere. Like I said, I think there is always a reason.

[wobgon]

In central PA. You can play in one of these tournaments every weekend from the middle of June thru the middle of August....Some are medal play some are match play. Some are two days, some are three days.About one third of them have waiting lists. Most of them have calcuttas. They are all two man team events and flighted. Average cost is around 375.00 a team plus about 200.00 per team for skins.

[Awarren11]

That is the way it used to be in Kentucky, particularly eastern and central Kentucky. You could find something every weekend. The prices are nowhere near in that range for the tournaments here in Kentucky though. They are usually 100-175 depending on the course with one that I can think of that exceeds 200, but it is a 3 day at a private course. The events with calcuttas are the best ones.

wobgon, what are you looking for out of your entry fee?

[wobgon]

[quote name='Awarren11' timestamp='1422029633' post='10803593']
That is the way it used to be in Kentucky, particularly eastern and central Kentucky. You could find something every weekend. The prices are nowhere near in that range for the tournaments here in Kentucky though. They are usually 100-175 depending on the course with one that I can think of that exceeds 200, but it is a 3 day at a private course. The events with calcuttas are the best ones.

wobgon, what are you looking for out of your entry fee?
[/quote]
First of all, this is the price per team......They usually pay about 4 or five places per flight.......Usually about 5or 6 hundred per man for first place.......Price usually includes two or three rounds with cart plus practice round....Usually get steak dinner on calcutta night and free lunch on friday,sat., and sunday......Real money is made on skins and calcutta. All these events are at private or semi. private courses.

[golfortennis]

There are some here in Ontario. Not as many because a)most clubs don't want to give up a weekend, so you can only get so many guys to take a day off work to play, and b)at $80 for a one day, and around $200 for a two-day(which may or may not include a practice round--all of them have some form of food included), you have to pick your spots. Maybe some of the *names* get free entry into events, since they seem to play in so many of them, but I know it's a limiting factor for me.

[Obee]

I play in quite a few Invitationals a year. They are a blast.

The Kelly Cup at Lakeside in Burbank
The Carlton Woods Invitational at The Club at Carlton Woods in Houston
The Jewel at Hacienda in La Habra Heights
The Champagne at Red Hill in Upland
The Macbeth at Wilshire in Los Angeles
The Grizzly at Bear Creek in Murrieta
The Champions Cup at Champions Golf Club in Houston
The Sartori at Los Angeles CC (hopefully this year!)

Some are individual tournaments. Some are partner events. I put together a schedule every year and send it out to my buddies. It's a big deal each year determining partners for the partner events. No one wants to get left out. Formats vary, but the most common is a two or three day format with one or two days of better-ball of partners, followed by a final day of "(g)aggregate." So much pressure on the final day with no partner to bail you out and every stroke mattering.

Cost ranges from $400 to $650 per person for most of the ones we play in. The ones my buddies and I play in are well worth the $$$.