Midwest GolfWRX Spring Outing

[Openwater22]

At Forest Dunes

odshot68 and I are planning a midwest GolfWRX outing at Forest Dunes. Details are contained in this post {except the ones I forgot, so chime in on those} Some of the plans are set in stone, some we want feedback on. The basic idea is to play 36 in one day at Forest Dunes. I'm a member, so accompained guest pricing will make this affordable. Due to the remote location and travel distance, we anticipate a lot of discussion about day before and day after golf. Please use this thread as a forum to make those plans, but Bill {odshot68} and I will be planning the actual outing only. Once you have decided you are "in" shoot me a pm and we'll exchange regular e-mail so I can create an e-address book to make communication of final plans and personal details easier. Ok then, let's get this party started!

Date:...............Sunday May 23rd. This one is set in stone guys.

Time:..............The last group should be off by 10:00 in the am round, 9:30 would be better. And 3:00 for the pm round.

Cost:..............Accompained guest rate is $75.00 and a $35.00 same day replay. Total $110.00. Can you say Bargain! The regular rate is $150.00 for 18.

Lodging:........We are "up in the sticks", so those who wish to stay overnight due to drive distance or stay and play, the pickins' are a little slim. The Ramada Inn in Grayling is the best bet for those desiring regular hotel accomadations. There are lots of 'mom and pop' style motels in the Roscommon and Grayling area, an internet search will give you all the options. Roscommon is a 15 min. drive to Forest Dunes, Grayling closer to 30 min. Forest Dunes has several on site model homes which can be rented. These are very nice and practically brand new. My member rate is $220.00 per night. They are 3 bedrooms with varying sleeping arrangements and easily sleep 4 to 6. Anyone desiring to stay at Forest Dunes, Please pay very close attention to the following! Not to be judgemental or a Pr....ck, but I value my membership and reputation at Forest Dunes very highly, so, if you want to party like a rock star! Please stay somewhere else. I need to make the reservation to get this rate, so I will require payment in full prior to making the reservation. If you wish to stay at Forest Dunes and deal directly with the club, call membership director Jennifer at 989-275-0700

Format,games,bets: Ok here is where we want lots of feedback. Let the fun begin! I'm thinking blind draw from the whole field for a best ball partner, handicapped. 2 best of 4 within your group, gross and net. Individual 36 hole total gross and net. Low 9 of the 36 gross and net. Pool up a $100.00 per guy for distribution across all the games. Let's hear it!

Field:.............Thinking we'll keep the number open, but if the response is awesome we may have to establish a cutoff. Also do you guys want to require a verifiable USGA handicap or state Association equivalent?

That's all I can think of for now. Chime in!


Jeff

[apprenti23]

Is this up in the Upper Peninsula Michigan??

[Openwater22]

Not in the UP. 100 miles south of the Mac. Bridge and middle of the state.

[tigerfan23]

I'm in!

[odshot68]

This is one hell of a place guys.. Jeff I could probably bring a couple guys..will let you know exact number when it gets closer. I wouldn't miss this for anything. I'm assuming they are not aerating during this period Jeff? I think $100 prize pool would be great. You may want to do 2 blind draws so you can have a different partner each 18...just an idea. Depending on the number of guys..either best ball 2 man teams or best 2 of 4 would be great to. It would have to be a verified handicap though. No sand baggers..LOL. Can't wait for this!

[tigerfan23]

Well I'm a 37 handicap if that matters in the games

 

Can't wait.

[Ed Settle]

Well I'm a 37 handicap if that matters in the games

 

Can't wait.

 

37 CANADIAN is not the same in the states!!

[TheBoomer]

WoW.

Now this is a great place for a Golf Outing.

I can get a couple of guys to come up from Dearborn.

Will let you know as we get closer.

[attachment=529468:forest_dunes_1.JPG]

[tigerfan23]

I'll play with the Lions fan from Dearborn!

[Openwater22]

Bill, aeration will be as early in April as weather permits, usually around the 15th. Course opens May 1st. So, 10 days to 2 weeks after aeration without any play and then 20 plus days. Greens should be perfect{as usual LOL} Plus, the course is closed Monday May 24th for some kind of media day, so methinks, conditions will be awesome.

Couple other thoughts since the original post. We're going to require a fairly large block of prime tee times, so the sooner I block em' the better. 10 minutes between times is 6 per hour = 24 players. How bout' I reserve 9:00-10:00 a.m. and 2:00-3:00 p.m.? I'm hesitant to reserve too many times and then cancel a bunch, but we don't want to exclude anybody. This time of year we can prolly add a time or two or three to the front side if we need them and after 3:00 should not be a problem.

Another thought, everybody's going to want to eat between rounds and time could get tight. I can get a price per person to have a cold cut style lunch buffet set up in a private room. Thoughts? The cost can be added to the green fees and paid at check-in. No muss no fuss.

[odshot68]

The lunch buffet would be perfect in-between rounds. Although I will miss the salmon salad...LOL. I'm curious how many guys we're going to bring in. 24 would be awesome.

[bbslurp413]

Jeff,

Sounds like a blast. I played Forest Dunes last year for the first time and it was the best conditioned course I've ever played in bar none. I'd rank it as my #2 public course in all of Michigan (behind Arcadia). That being said, it sounds like a lot of fun and I'm in.

Bryan

[Openwater22]

Bryan, Kevin, great that you guys are in! Send me a PM at some point with your regular e-mail.

Bill, I'm sure we can pre-order a salmon salad 4 U and whoever else wants one. LOL

[3_Jack_Par]

I have to find a way to get in on this. I'll be in Bellaire that weekend for an outing, but there's no golf involved on Sunday, so it's conceivable that I could take it easy on the booze on Saturday night and make it over to FD in time to play in the AM.
Would it be a problem if someone could only play the AM round?

[tigerfan23]

I'll be coming from Windsor so if anyone needs a Ride from metro Detroit, say so or send me a PM.

Prob head up Saturday early (get a practice round in ) some time and back Sunday night.

[itw419]

Do all the participants need to be members of golfwrx? I could probably get a foursome but not all would be members.

[Openwater22]

[quote name='Tiger Jr.' date='27 January 2010 - 10:47 AM' timestamp='1264607237' post='2207321']
I have to find a way to get in on this. I'll be in Bellaire that weekend for an outing, but there's no golf involved on Sunday, so it's conceivable that I could take it easy on the booze on Saturday night and make it over to FD in time to play in the AM.
Would it be a problem if someone could only play the AM round?
[/quote]


Tiger Jr.,
It'd be great to have you, but at this point I think we need to have everybody play 36 for pairings, bets, games, etc. Bellaire to Forest Dunes is about 1 hr. 15 min. We could get you out first in the afternoon round though if that helps get you back downstate on schedule.

[3_Jack_Par]

[quote name='openwater32' date='27 January 2010 - 12:26 PM' timestamp='1264613176' post='2207562']
Tiger Jr.,
It'd be great to have you, but at this point I think we need to have everybody play 36 for pairings, bets, games, etc. Bellaire to Forest Dunes is about 1 hr. 15 min. We could get you out first in the afternoon round though if that helps get you back downstate on schedule.
[/quote]

Understood -- how soon do you need a yay or nay? I probably won't have all my plans locked down for a while.

[Openwater22]

[quote name='itw419' date='27 January 2010 - 11:14 AM' timestamp='1264608867' post='2207393']
Do all the participants need to be members of golfwrx? I could probably get a foursome but not all would be members.
[/quote]


Not totally my call on this. What does everybody think? Chime in.

Based on some feedback, I think we are going to require USGA handicaps or state association equivalents.

So far it seems like all Michigan guys and one [i]" Crazy Canuck Club Ho" [/i]aka; kgeorge78.

It would be great to get some In., Oh., Il., guys. It's a long ways, but if you play this course and don't immediately put in in your personal top five, I'll personally refund your green fees!

[Openwater22]

[quote name='Tiger Jr.' date='27 January 2010 - 12:33 PM' timestamp='1264613612' post='2207576']
[quote name='openwater32' date='27 January 2010 - 12:26 PM' timestamp='1264613176' post='2207562']
Tiger Jr.,
It'd be great to have you, but at this point I think we need to have everybody play 36 for pairings, bets, games, etc. Bellaire to Forest Dunes is about 1 hr. 15 min. We could get you out first in the afternoon round though if that helps get you back downstate on schedule.
[/quote]

Understood -- how soon do you need a yay or nay? I probably won't have all my plans locked down for a while.
[/quote]


I've reserved 6 tee times, so the first 24 solid committments are in. After that, we'll expand the field based on available tee times. So far we have committments from; odshot68, kgeorge78, bbslurp413, and me.

[bbslurp413]

Sounds like fun. I had a USGA handicap 2 years ago so I will have to get that renewed for this year. $110 for 36 at Forest Dunes is an unbilevable deal.

[apprenti23]

How far of a drive from Chicago?

[Openwater22]

[quote name='apprenti23' date='27 January 2010 - 03:42 PM' timestamp='1264624947' post='2208013']
How far of a drive from Chicago?
[/quote]


5hrs. to downtown Chicago.

[Chicago Lefty]

Not as far as I thought it would be from Chicago...great course for this event as well.

[itw419]

If I bring a foursome would I play with them? In other words are you going to randomize who is in each grouping?

[Openwater22]

[quote name='itw419' date='28 January 2010 - 05:46 PM' timestamp='1264718791' post='2210554']
If I bring a foursome would I play with them? In other words are you going to randomize who is in each grouping?
[/quote]

Yeah, I think we'll do blind draws for best ball partners, foursomes, etc. To me that's part of the fun of putting
This together. Personally, I want to get paired wikth kgeorge78 just to see if he buys a new driver or
Putter at the turn.

[T-Gates]

I might have to get in on this, what a great deal! My wife's family has a small cabin in Roscommon.

[odshot68]

[quote name='openwater32' date='31 January 2010 - 10:08 AM' timestamp='1264950494' post='2216464']
[quote name='itw419' date='28 January 2010 - 05:46 PM' timestamp='1264718791' post='2210554']
If I bring a foursome would I play with them? In other words are you going to randomize who is in each grouping?
[/quote]

Yeah, I think we'll do blind draws for best ball partners, foursomes, etc. To me that's part of the fun of putting
This together. Personally, I want to get paired wikth kgeorge78 just to see if he buys a new driver or
Putter at the turn.
[/quote]

Tell Donny to stock up on clubs for the shop!

[tigerfan23]

Hey now!

[3_Jack_Par]

Alright, I'm in. This is just too good of a deal to pass up, and I'm sure my wife will understand, because I've told her in glowing terms how much I love this course. PM to follow.