My Champions Tour quest thread-update post 530

[MonteScheinblum]

I learned four things about Orlando this week.

 

Everything is 30 minutes away from you at any given point

Def Leppard is always on the radio

Every shot is into the wind

Every putt is into the grain

[AndrewKaleta]

So much for Disney being the "Happiest Place on Earth". Needs to be an asterisk saying, "Everywhere except the golf courses. You'll hate those"

[Schnee]

I learned four things about Orlando this week.

 

Everything is 30 minutes away from you at any given point

Def Leppard is always on the radio

Every shot is into the wind

Every putt is into the grain

 

An addendum to this: If someone tells you the exit on I4 that you're looking for is by the Ferris wheel, it could be one of 38 places.

[PapaJohick]

So would you say that I need to look at playing this course when I head that way this spring haha

[Hawkeye77]

So did McGinley ask about the putter?

[MonteScheinblum]

So would you say that I need to look at playing this course when I head that way this spring haha

 

It's really not a bad course. It just doesn't suit me very well. My tee game was a little off. If I played the exact golf I played this week on a course with trees on both sides of the fairway, I would have been under par for the week as I hit my irons well. I believe I only missed 3-4 greens the entire week when I was in play off the tee.

 

My starting line on my 2iron thru driver was off. I wasn't hitting foul balls, but on this course, when you miss the fairway by 5-10 yards, it's in a hazard.

 

 

 

 

[Schnee]

So did McGinley ask about the putter?

 

Not that I heard but other guys did during practice rounds.

[NCHACK85]

I bet Mr. McGinley would be all nonchalantly in asking where the beer was since your putting with a bottle opener.

[sheldonjhacker]

I learned four things about Orlando this week.

 

Everything is 30 minutes away from you at any given point

Def Leppard is always on the radio

Every shot is into the wind

Every putt is into the grain

I learned one thing this week:

 

Monte is the "Man in the Arena"-an inspiration to all of his loyal fans on here !

[NCHACK85]

Do they rotate courses for final stage of Q school? Or is it always at the same place?

[Schnee]

Do they rotate courses for final stage of Q school? Or is it always at the same place?

 

Different every year

[NCHACK85]

Do they rotate courses for final stage of Q school? Or is it always at the same place?

 

Different every year

 

Y'all should make a weekend trip before Q school next year and play from the very back of the back tee box. Making sure it fits his game.

[eagle1997]

Thanks for sharing this journey with us Monte. Got superstitious today and tried not posting in this thread, lest I be your bad bounce talisman.

 

I know it probably sounds like a participation trophy right now, but Well Done on getting to this stage. You're actually living the dream. That should never be overlooked.

 

Congrats and good luck in the future. I - like so many of us wrxers- will be here, rooting for you, big time.

 

Cheers.

 

 

[jaxson]

What tees did they play?

[Krt22]

Do they rotate courses for final stage of Q school? Or is it always at the same place?

 

Different every year

 

I was going to ask the same. I'm guessing monte will dabble with a few monday qualifiers this year and then go at it again next year, hopefully at a course where his length wont get him in as much trouble

 

That and practice with that mini!

[Schnee]

The mini is probably the best thing to come out of this week. He hits it a ton. Like 290-310 carry. High and straight. Hardly any curve. Mishits curve as much as say a mid iron

[NCHACK85]

The mini is probably the best thing to come out of this week. He hits it a ton. Like 290-310 carry. High and straight. Hardly any curve. Mishits curve as much as say a mid iron

 

That's freaking awesome!

[rangersgoalie]

So, -1 was the number and Van de Velde just made it.

 

I just wonder how many of those finishing in 6th thru 30th will try to Monday qualify. That's a grueling and expensive path that can't have a very good percentage of playing in the tournament.

 

Monte has to pre qualify to get in Monday's, which is a tough deal when you have a lot of teaching commitments.

 

Last three finals in the odd numbered years were at the TPC Scottsdale (2nd course).

 

should be a good fit for him, though tight in spots

[northgolf]

I think he's played Scottsdale a few times.

[Matt J]

Monte, I'm in on the PacNW clinic if you can promise me 10 yards.

 

Just kidding, my man. Great run. Sounds like you and the mini could be fast friends.

 

Hoping I'll be healed up enough for the clinic and full speed to see you in action.

[Stuart_G]

The mini is probably the best thing to come out of this week. He hits it a ton. Like 290-310 carry. High and straight. Hardly any curve. Mishits curve as much as say a mid iron

 

It's great he hit it well - but isn't that a bit longer than he wanted? I thought he was looking for a 280-290 club to get the desired gap? Maybe he should try the 14* mini instead of the 12*.

[dpb5031]

So, -1 was the number and Van de Velde just made it.

 

I just wonder how many of those finishing in 6th thru 30th will try to Monday qualify. That's a grueling and expensive path that can't have a very good percentage of playing in the tournament.

 

At one point Scott Parel made like 6 or 7 Monday's in a row, could have been 9. But as a Monday qualifier, he played a pretty full schedule of 15 events.

There were about 20 guys that played most of the Monday qualifiers the past two years. (I haven't counted them, top of head number,)

Kraft,Boris,Inman,parel,Kendall,Burke,Carter,Clearwater,Horgan,Martin,Bruckner,etc. There were More, but a core group plays most of the qualifiers. It is not easy, but if you play well, the scores are not outrageous to qualify.

There is also a big number of players already exempt in to Monday's that were not at q school that play a decent number of them.

There is also a surprising number of players who play a lot of the pre qualifiers to get in to the Monday's

 

If you remember Bruce Fleisher....when he came out to play on the "regular" tour BITD....he was highly regarded for his amateur career, but was continually playing Monday qualifiers, and not really qualifying for a lot of events.

 

Fast Forward to when he turned 50...he basically ran the table for a few years on the Sr Tour.

 

Monday qualifying is just what it is, and if playing the bigger game is what you target as a goal, then you do whatever it takes to reach that goal. Monday qualifiers are character builders, making players stronger....mentally and physically.

 

Great thread and kudos to Monte for putting himself "out there!"

 

Interesting you brought up Bruce Fleisher. OT, but his caddy on the regular tour was a guy nicknamed Six-pack Jack. Right before Fleisher turned 50, Six-pack got into a car wreck and got busted up real bad...needed both hips replaced, etc.

 

Anyway, Six-pack, unable to caddy any longer, ended up as the locker room attendant at my club in NJ. Poor guy missed out on Fleisher's Champions Tour run and a pile of cash. Occasionally wed be sitting round the men's lounge and he'd ring up Fleish, Ian Baker Finch, Fred Couples, etc. They always took his calls! Sadly we lost him a few years ago. He was quite the character.

 

Thanks for sharing your experience Monte! Stop eating all that garbage and you'll have plenty of time to get there!?

[Lefthook]

I second that. Thanks for sharing, Monte.

[MonteScheinblum]

Got my first good break of the week. Southwest flight, I got.....THE SEAT!!!!!!

[Schnee]

I must've done something right too ?

 

[chrisgilly09]

That's impossible, you both cant be in the same seat

[Schnee]

That's impossible, you both cant be in the same seat

 

Same seat different plane!

[Goldenchang]

Got my first good break of the week. Southwest flight, I got.....THE SEAT!!!!!!

 

Nice! Wife and I just got news of a 4 hour delay on our flight to CA. Hopefully we make it to Irvine by the 15th...

[ferrispgm]

Come on Phoenix, let's get this secured!

 

Monte, are you thinking it would be at the same venue as last year, Lookout Mountain?

[Cropduster79]

how many is Chicago at?